RESUME OF LECTURES ON EDUCATION, DELIVERED BY C. C. HOWARD, ESQ, F.R.G.S., AT THE NORMAL SCHOOL, CHRISTCHURCH.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 161, 1 February 1878, Page 2

RESUME OF LECTURES ON EDUCATION, DELIVERED BY C. C. HOWARD, ESQ, F.R.G.S., AT THE NORMAL SCHOOL, CHRISTCHURCH.

Second Course—Methods .of Teaching and Organization. Lecture I. to 111. Subject': General Principles of Organization and School Arrangement. Systems of Classification. Infant and Common Schools. Furniture and working arrangements. The Tripartite System.

Those three lectures were devoted chiefly to details of classification and arrangement best suited to infant and common schools, the importance of which the lecturer felt, could not he overrated. Too great attention cannot be paid to the erection of suitable buildings, as bad buildings greatlyhinder successful work. They should be constructed upon approved principles, not long and narrow, but rather in ratio of length to breadth, as 3 : 1, or better 5 : 2, or 12: 5. L or T shape is preferable to increased ltsigth, and one large room, separated, if necessary, by a curtain or folding doors, is better than two distinct rooms. The size should allow 80 cubic feet of space, and 8 squar3 feet area of floor for each child in attendance; but where possible, 10 square feet should be allowed in infant schools. For infant schools only the ground floor, should be used, and the room should be divided into two departments, initiatory and juvenile, with separate entrance from that used by bigger children. .Infant schoolrooms should be made as cheerful as possible, be ■well ventilated, warmed, lighted, and furnished, and be well decorated with coloredpictures. The work in this portion of the school should comprise chiefly singing and exercises, and ihu little ones should be kept merry, under the charge of the most motherly and pleasant teacher. In infant schools galleries are very

necessary. The space required for each varies, but should allow about 15 inches for each child, or 18 inches when used for # ' ordinary lessons. Each galbry should bo 28 inches in width, the seats fitted with backs, 7 inches to 11 inches high for the little ones, and 12 inches to 14 inches for bigger children. Galleries should be "» erected at the end of the room, with lines as little extended as possible, and the lesions should be diversified, and aim at cultivating the perceptive and conceptive faculties. The same principles of con- ; struction as applied to infant schools are applicable to larger common schools, and the same proportion of area and cubical ' space is necessary. Mr Howard here sketched upon the blackboard plans of « buildings which are capable of modification to suit different sized schools, and showed how they could be easily, enlarged at any time to suit altered circumstances. The main building should consist of a n> rectangular room, say 50 feet by 20 feet, divided by a partition or curtain into two appartinents, so as to leave the larger portion 35 x 20. The lobby 18 s 10 is erected in the centre of one of the sides, and a lavatory 18 x 6 is added, containing the entrances, separately, for boys and girls r the whole forming a building 18 x 16 r divided throughout by a partition. Additions as class-rooms could be conveniently %' constructed by filling up the spaces on each side of the lobby, or by lengtheningthe larger appartment of the main building. The light should be clear, not deadened from the roof or end of building, if «• possible, and the windows should be not ' latticed, but sashed, and made to open. The rooms should be well warmed from an open fireplace, rather than a stove or hot-water pipes. The school should be well furnished with the most suitable appliances and apparatus, but should not contain more than one chair for the master and head-mistress respectively. Teachers should stand when at -work. Desks—Mr Howard quoted Curry's remarks—"lst. # Sufficiently far apart to prevent mutual interruption of classes. 2nd. Placed in best position for superintendence by teacher. 3rd. So placed that the eye of the teacher may command the whole at •# one glance. 4th. To occupy the smallest possible space, and yet be convenient in any change of lessons. sth. To be placed in parallel rows." Accommodation must depend upon the number of children, and the working arrangements of the school. For 125 children the staff should consist of the master, one assistant, and • two pupil teachers. Best arrangement would be to have three groups of desks, 9 feet each in length, in one group. Bach group 3 feet in width, or 9 feet for three rows. The floor should be terraced, and the desks graduated in height. The convertible desks supplied by the National Society were strongly recommended, but any desk | should not be very narrow or very steep. Laurie's ink wells, with dome top and small aperture were recommended as the best kind to be obtained. In class-room, there should be a gallery, with four stages, having a two foOL passage in centre, fitted up with desks and additional forms, with backs, of convenient size to facilitate removal. Blackboards, three in number, one of which' ruled for music, mounted on framed stands, are most convenient Maps, Stanford's new maps, not being over-crowded,-are the best kind for schools. Keith , Johnston's physical maps were re- * commended as good.

The Tripartite Systkm was suggested' by Professor Moseley. It consists in each school buing divided into three groups of children, and each group or class in its turn moves into the class-room to receive oral instruction from the master, while the remaining classes engage in silent work in the main school, under the superintendence of assistant teachers. The object of the system being to bring all the classes daily, and in regular order, under the immediate tuition of the principal and most experienced' teacher.