HOME AND SCHOOLS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1946, Page 2

HOME AND SCHOOLS

OTAKI ASSOCIATION MEETS The monthly meeting of the Home and School Association, heid on Tuesday last, was well attended, when Mr. R. Bills presiaed and welcoined Mr. G. H. Stubbs, senior inspector of schools for the Wellington Education Board's district, the speaker for the night. A letter from the Porirua Trust Board informed the meeting that the Maori School building would be available as a manuai training centre. It was decided to refer the matter to the school committee, with support from the associacion. The headmaster, Mr. James, announced that the calf rearing compstitions would be judged ao the school on November 20 and the school flower show on November 28. The parents were asked to support these functions and an invitacion was given them to be present. The next Home and School meeting would take the form of a demonstration by the school choirs, singing a'nd verse speaking, and it was suggested that this be held in the Anglican Hall. In introducing the speaker, Mr Bills said that it was a privilege to have the senior inspector present when he was so busily engaged in routine and other work. Mr. Stubbs, on rising, was given an ovation and expressed his pleasure at being invited to address the meeting of such an association, which was one of the many in New Zealand doing good work to further the interests oi education in the country. Education had experienced changes during the last few years from the narrower bounds of the "three r's" to the broader development of the child's mental, physical, moral and emotional life. The raising of the school age was serving a dual purpose in giving the child a little longer time in which to cover the many approaches to a full education, and in preventing the use of child labour. In the abolition of the proficiency examinations was found a remedy for dealing with the non-academic child, who could now feel his social level in that he was placed in his correct age group. The fundamentals were still important, while it was recognised that the child, to become a good citizen, had to be industrious, courteous and obedient, these being gained by a system of rewards rather thah by punishment. Special classes, specialist teachers, infant room methods, special treatment for physically handicapped children, and the part the Education Department was playing in the new education were dealt with very fully by Mr. Stubbs. One feature of the results of the methods used in infant rooms today was the absence of fear, and an appeal was made to the parents to assist teachers by giving information of the child's characteristics. The department had given a greater grant for school reading books, which were to be distributed to the smaller schools not being served by the Country Library Service. The speaker paid a tribute to ■hc flnc work done by the latter service in giving schools a wider variety of reading material.

A description of the work done in a special clinic for sufferers from ciett palates expiained one branch of education, which has evolved from a greater clesire to help those who have not been fortunate enough to be physically sound. As more inowleage of rhe neeas of tne cmid .vas gained, there would be other changes in the educational system and yet the aim of education would remain, "To make a useful citizen and a thinking human being." Some quesi/ions were askea and a pleasant time was spent in reiati'ng in'cidents in the life of the inspectors. Mr. Calwell, who proposed a hcarty vote of thanks to Mr. Stubbs tor his interesting and instructive address, said that he thought education was on the correct lines, and that he had seen the gradual change for the better in the atti'oude of the young people today. Mr. Stubbs received applause from an appreciative audience. Over a cup of tea, parents and teachers met to talk over different ! aspects of school work.