THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYLLABUS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2512, 27 May 1909, Page 5

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYLLABUS.

ACTION OF AUCKLAND EDUCA-

TION BOARD

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, May 26. At this morning’s meeting of the Auckland Education Board, the chairman (Mr. C. J. Parr) said he. desired to see a conference of teachers and inspectors to go into the very important question of the school syllabus. The Minister for Education had recently said the inspectors were misinterpreting tho syllabus. This might or might not be correct, but the conference he suggested holding could go into the truth of the. matter. At the present time history and geography wero subjects very much in the background, and brush work and similar subjects seemed’ to occupy a more prominent position upon the curriculum. if he might say so, they appeared to be. emphasising the frills of education In his opinion it ivas desirable that they should hold a conference, such as ho suggested, during the mid-winter holiday Mr. H. J. Greenslade, M.P., said the matter was one of the greatest importance, and he thought the chaiimah s suggestion would lead to a possible solution of the difficulties which undoubtedly existed. He further suggested that similar conferences should be held throughout the Dominion. Mr. Edgecumbo contended that the syllabus, was overloaded, with the result that no subject was properly tan "lit. His experience as a commercial°man was that a thorough groundin" in the three “It’s” was of more value than Latin and . French. Ihe latter were of no use to the average citizen of New Zealand. Nine-tenths of the people of New Zealand had to base their success kin the grounding they had received in the three subjects lie had mentioned. Mr. G. J. Garland said that when the syllabus came out ho expressed the opinion that it was hard to- know which it was, a syllabus or an incumbus, and ho was just in as great doubt now. It was unanimously decided, on tlie motion of the chairman, to convene a conference, of members of tlic Board, inspectors, and teachers at an early date, to inquire into the working of tlie school syllabus.