EDUCATIONAL CHANGES

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1947, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL CHANGES

TALK TO TEACHDERS AND PARENTS At the November meeting of the Shannon Parents' and Teachers' Association, held at the local school on Monday evening, the president, Mr. R. R. Lind, presided over a very good attendance of members. After the routine business of the evening had been dealt with, Mr. Lind extended a welcome to Mr. N. A. Bytfne and Mr. A. Haley, principal and senior assistant respectively of Horowhenua College. After remarking on the pleasure that it gave him and Mr. Haley to have the opportunity of meeting a group so obviously interested in education, Mr. Byrne proceeded to briefly survey some of the recent changes that have been made in education. He mentioned particularly the raising of the statutory leaving age to 15 years and the changes in the secondary schools' curriculum. Speaking of the former, Mr. Byrne said: "If a boy or girl has the fixed idea when he enters a secondary school of leaving it when he reaches the age of 15, his frame of mind will not allow him to derive much profit from that secondary education." He stressed the fact that a child should stay several years in. order to get benefit from aiiy secondary school course. Insuificient time had passed since the leaving age had been rai'sed to be able to pass judgment on its success as it stood at the present time. Referring to the changes in the curriculum, the speaker mentioned that certain subjects now constituted a compulsory "core." These subjects were prescribed by regulation and no . pupil could be exempted from taking any of them. The purpose of the school was not to prepare a pupil to earn a living — it assisted towards that — but to educate him or her to live, and that required a wlder range of compulsory subjects, namely English, social st.udies, science, practical mathematics, art, or handicraft, music and physical education. Outside these subjects, certain "course" subjects were taken and were elective. The secondary school leaving ' certificate was the School Certificate, and was intended as a four year course, especially in special- , ist courses. Matriculation was the university entrance qualification; and wa's not "a passport into the outside world." Unless a child wished to -Snteib the university he should > not- sit the matriculation examiimtioh. ■ | • ■ In hls ffhi^rks on Horowhenua College, Mr.- Byrne explained' that the curriculum -did not prbvide for specialisation in - the first year, as it was considered desirable that pupils should have a year in which to discover aptitudes. students embarked upon specialised courses in the second ^ear., I>arents were urged^no't "to 'force children into courses for which they showed no aptitude. "it is no good

considering your child as one whose career you are going ro shape. Find out first what his aptitudes are and then direct him that way," added Mr. Byrne. After outlining the cour'ses offering at Horowhenua College, the principal invited questions, which were immediately -forthcoming, and a very interesting and instructive half hour ensued. At the conclusion, Mr. Land thanked the visitors for having come to the meeting and' Mr. Byrne in particular for his very interesting and informative address. The meeting showed its appreciation by acclamation. A delightful supper brought to a conclusion another successful meeting of the Parents' and Teachers' Association.