LOCAL EXPERIMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14017, 25 June 1913, Page 5

LOCAL EXPERIMENT.

MINISTER ON EDUCATION QUESTIONS. WANGANUI BOARD COMMENDED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Hkbald.) | WELLINGTON, June 24. The Minister of Education explained to your representative to-day the reason why education will not figure on fho Government’s legislation programme this session. “The subject is so Hugo,*the proposals so numerous, and the importance of:the. Education Commission’s report so great,” declared Mr Allen, “that I do not think it possible to legislate this ytfar, but the ■whole matter will be referred to the Education Committee. I do, not know' if I shall have time to settle the question of the universities, this session. The Inspec-tor-General of Education was I instructed to report last year upon the finance and requirements of the universities, and the report came, before. Parliament, but I havebeen so busy with financial matters that T have not had time to give it attention. Now I see the way clear I shall do all I can to lay myself out for educational matters.” EDUCATION EXPERIMENT. The Minister, in touching upon his interesting investigation of the Montessori methods of training young children, ttrongly urged the necessity of some experimental education work being done in New Zealand. “I would like this,” he said, “to ho realised by the Education Boards, for they have th 6 practical opportunity of doing, this valuable service to the Dominion. I am glad to see. that the Wanganui Education Board has shown that if recognises a responsibility in this respect. Experimental work rightly directed is of extreme value. I have in mind the case of New South. Wales; where enthusiastic teachers, after ro'adihg Dr. Montcssori’s book upon calling the individuality of the child into play in its education, cultivating the senses of touch, sight, taste, and even smell, started to experiment. They had read the book and digested its principles so carefully that they have actually progressed further in the methods and application of the principle than Ike author herself.