AWAKERI TEACHER DEFENDS PRESENT SCHOOL SYLLABUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 3, 27 February 1950, Page 4

AWAKERI TEACHER DEFENDS PRESENT SCHOOL SYLLABUS

That the present educational syllabus as adopted by schools in New Zealand was not as bad as had been painted by recent criticism was asserted by the headmaster of the Awakeri School, Mr E. G. Anderson, in an address to the Awakeri Parent-Teacher Association. The recent purging of the previous syllabus in use had eliminated many now useless sections but had also retained and added a number of necessary requirements, he sa: Mr Anderson pointed out that although the purge had been very thorough a definite minimum standard had been kept which guaranteed a reasonable education in all subjects taken without unduly restricting the pupil’s development of his natural gifts of self-expression. That angle, Mr Anderson considered, was most important. AH' schools, he added/ taught art, music and cultural studies, but an examination of any timetable would show that the time devoted to them was proportionately sound when compared with that given to other subjects. Concluding his address, Mr Anderson urged any would-be critics to take advantage of Parent-Teacher •Association membership where constructive work could be done, instead of adopting the role of armchair critics.