SCHOOL COURSES ADVICE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 11

SCHOOL COURSES ADVICE

Guidance Centre’s Bulletin

Christchurch post - primary schools ranging from the oldest, which have celebrated' their seventy-fifth anniversaries, to the new Ricca rton High School, where construction is still at the framing stage, are covered in a new 'bulletin on courses for next year which has been sent this week to primary school headmasters by the Christchurch Vocational Guidance Centre.

“In most cases, choice of school may be left to personal preference. However, not all the schools provide all the courses. Furthermore courses bearing the same name vary in subject content as between one school and another. Hence, choice of course may in some cases determine choice of school,” the bulletin says. All courses include a certain minimum of English, social studies, elementary mathematics, general science, music, arts, crafts, and physical education. These subjects make up the “core” of general education prescribed by regulation. Other courses are extended. Full mathematics, includes arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and in form V. Trigonometry. “Core mathematics” is limited to arithmetic with some elements of algebra and geometry. “Lack of full mathematics in a course is often regretted later by those who have done core mathematics only; full mathematics is desirable for all who can manage the subject,” the centre says. Field of Selection “It should be noted that apart from English, not all “core” subjects are taught to School Certificate standard, and that not all School Certificate subjects may be advanced to University Entrance examination. Since selection of alternative subjects must be made at stages of the postprimary course, the wider the course begun in form 111, the greater the field of selection and opportunity left open to the pupil. “Ability to cope with the content of a course is a more important consideration than present vocational interest. In general a pupil should not start on too specialised a course in the first year. The only safe method of avoiding any future difficulties is to embark on as wide a course as capacity allows,” says the bulletin. “All courses are usually broad enough to lead to a number of different type* of GMttr*”