A WRONG VIEW

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16834, 28 June 1926, Page 7

A WRONG VIEW

SECONDARY EDUCATION

MR J. CAUGHLEY SPEAKS OUT.

UNPROFITABLE STUDIES

WELLINGTON, Monday

" I should like to refer very • briefly to a wrong view of secondary education that is all too prevalent," said Mr J. Caughley, Director of Education, at the opening of the Hutt High School. " Many parents think that unless their children are being taught Latin, French and mathematics they are not receiving secondary education. Parents, therefore, often Insist on those subjects being Included in the course of instructions for their children.

Mr Caughley said in some cases the children were not suited for tho study of these subjects, though they could study to great advantage in other subjects. In most cases the children would not be able to continue the study to a profitable stage, 1.e., to the point where, at least, they could read Latin or French with some ease and profit, or use mathematics In some real way. Unless such a stage was reached the real objective of education was defeated. The old idea that cortaln subjects gave a special kind of mental training or discipline of value In Itself, apart from the content value of the subjeot, was exploded long ago. Mr Caughley said: "We olalm that a fuller study of the English language and literature, with the additional time that might be given to it that Is too often wasted on acquiring a useless smattering of a foreign language, would give far better educational and cultural results even on the very points the study of foreign language Is supposed to score. The proper study of statistical method in connection with commercial geography and calculations involved in experiments and science would do all that the scraps of pure mathematics acquired in three years could accomplish." He also put In a plea for manual works and home science. Besides being useful, these developed the klind of thinking that could never be gained from mere abstract study.