INVESTIGATION INTO WRITING AND SPELLING

Chronicle (Levin), 9 October 1946, Page 7

INVESTIGATION INTO WRITING AND SPELLING

■Press Association

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. ' ' Special investigation is being made into the teaching of sjielling to ensure accuracy in the use of everyday words," stated the chief inspector of" primary schools (Mr. G. E. Overton) in his annual report on primary a'nd postprimary education which was. tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday. , Spelling,' he added, had been the target of criticism for many years, and it was questionable whether the general level of attainment had. muck deteriorated in recent years. • Reports from variops soqrces were conflicting; nevertheless-, constant care on the part of teachers would be needed as long as so many of- our words were spelt in the "clumsy, uphonetie way of present usage. Reform in this connection should be more than a pious hope. Writing was another subject that had been receiving special attention. The average primary school child writes legibly and well, but it was stated that the writing deteriorated with speed, a fault that should not arise if the proper muscular arm niovement was progressively developed. "Reading is perhaps one of the best pliases of English in our schools, and is beeoming riclier in scope with improving library facilities, " said Mr. Overton. "The new syllabus in arithmetie is being more suceessfully' treated as all the standard class text-, books, except one, are now in use by the pupils. ' ' The new syllabus contains all the essential features of the old, but the merely pedantie and unreal exercises of the traditional type have been eliminated. Within the restricted scope, greater proliciency should be attained. After the syllabus has been tried thoroughly for at least a year, the time. should be opportune - for systematic surveys to be undertaken to check up tlie progress of the children, and to compare the worth of the new syllabus with the old. " The report added that all reports of senior inspectors stated that special attention had been given with some success to the standards of work in the fundamental skills Of English and arithmetic. Discussing the revision of the syllabus, Mr. Overton said the complete revision involved a vast amount of work, which had been appo'rtioned to a nuuiber of eommittees in the four main centres. Tliese eommittees consisted of inspectors. teachers and specialists in

various fields. As tho eommittees completed their reports, they were issued to all branches of the „ New Zealand Educational Institute, find to the inspection staffs for boiuments, which were considered before the new syllabus in any subject was colnpiled. The new syllabus iu health and temperauce, which was in operation, was eminehtly practical, being intended to inculcate a liealthy way of liviug.