TEACHERS' PLEA

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16834, 28 June 1926, Page 5

TEACHERS' PLEA

MANUAL INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS The Institute of Handicraft Teachers, aL Cambridge, discussed "The Mental Morning and (he Manual Afternoon," which was Ihe title of an inlorIng paper contributed by Mr Ghrislo.pher Turnor, of Stoke ltochford, Lincolnshire. During Ihe last, (wo or three decades, he said, it had been recognised that our system of elementary education concerned itself 100 much with text-hook work'and 100 little with the manual side. Much had been said about the, development of (he. manual side, but comparatively little had been done. There was a growing opinion that our education was not turning out, the type of citizen of which the country stood in need. While they pleaded for a better balance between manual work and text-book work, they were fully aware of (he need for other changes in our system of education. As long as education was allowed to stop altogether at the age of l-'i for the majority of children, we could not expect to achieve satisfactory results, no matter how good the elementary | curriculum. Taxpayers and ralepayers should be made lo realise that in these circumstances they could not hope to gel an adequate return for their money. In giving manual Instruction, Mr Turnor continued, over-elaboration of equipment should be avoided. This was particularly serious in the. ease of girls learning cookery, laundry work, etc., as they should be taught to use the everyday equipment found in cottage homes. lie suggested that the best way of introducing the manual method was for the local education authorities lo convene a small conference of teachers who were known to lie interested, and to make a start in 25 or 30 schools. The following year another conference should be held, composed ' f the same teachers, but with a similar number of new teachers brought in. In this way the teachers themselves would introduce the movement in Ihe way best soiled lo Ihe localily and besl suited lo the school stalls. After discussion Ihe scheme was unanimously adopted.