EDUCATION REPORT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 13 September 1929, Page 6

EDUCATION REPORT

WORK IN DOMINION. THE NEW SYLLABUS. By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. A lengthy annual report on edition was laid on the table of the House of Representatives to-day. in® report states that it has frequently been said that, although the New Zealand education system is undoubted y an efficient one, it has shown too grea a tendency towards rigidity. it is the aim of the new syllabus to remove this defect, and it is hoped that teachers will avail themselves as fully as is wise and reasonable of tne freedom thus offered them. With regard to the post-primary schools, it is noteworthy that there is a marked tendency for the secondary schools and the technical high schools to draw more closely together. rn one case, namely, at New Plymouth, the two,institutions have been amalgamated and placed under the control o one board instead, of two separate boards, and the experiment is being watched with interest. In Oamaru the Waitaki High School Board has assumed control of the technical Plication in the locality and it is hoped that further advance in the direction of unification of control will presently be effected. “There appears very good reason why post-primary education at ail events, if not all branches of education, should be under one controlling body. I propose (states the Minister) to explore the possibilities in this direction at a very early date. GROWTH OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

“The rapid growth of technical high schools, particularly in the cities, is a good indication of the awakening of the people to the .advantages of _ a more practical type of instruction than has been traditionally given in the past in the secondary schools. But even in the latter there is a growing tendency on the part of the teachers and the controlling authorities to provide courses of manual training. There still remain, however, marked evidences cf* weakness in our post-primary scheme of education, inasmuch as many children who show little aptitude for purely literary studies. still embark upon them without-being ab.e to make satisfactory progress. There is an urgent need in the school system for what may be called ia ‘trying-out ground’ where pupils can have an opportunity at a 6 early a stage. as possible to discover their aptitudes and subsequently embark on advanced courses that are congenial to them and which will enable them to reach a type of emplovment that will be of a benefit both to themselves and to the country as a whole. This is undoubtedly the best type of vocational guidance that can be given in the schools. I trust that it will be possible during the next few yeprs to make a definite advance in this direction. AGRICULTURAL BIAS.

“Efficient courses of instruction in rural subjects, such as elementary agriculture and dairy science, have been prepared by the inspectors and agriculture instructors and are in operation in all primary schools. In many of the higher schools similar courses are provided, but there is no doubt that more should be done in this direction in order that the high schools may provide a good grounding in those subjects upon a knowledge of which depends the prosperity of the primary industries of the country. I propose that all types of schools shall play their part as effectively as possible in counteracting the undoubtedly dangerous drift of population from the country to the towns. It must be understood, however, that while the schools can give material assistance in this matter, the problem is not purely an educational one as it is indispensable that boys and girls, after being trained in rural pursuits, shall be given an opportunity to make a comfortable living on the land. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Government has placed land settlement in the forefront of its policy and will vigorously foster it in .any and every way that is feasible. In the Budget presented by the Minister of Finance an intimation is given that, in addition to existing authorities, the House will be asked to authorise the borrowing of up to £5,000,000 for land settlement. A- special land development branch of the State Advances Office is to be set up for the purpose of assisting those who are willing to fake up and develop sections of waste land, and the Government intend to proceed resolutely with the cutting up of large estates suitable for closer settlement.”