N.Z. Headmaster Makes School Comparisons

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 6

N.Z. Headmaster Makes School Comparisons

AUCKLAND, Dec. 5. New Zeaianders on the whole reeeived a niore utilitarian and general education than their British contemporuries, said Mr F. W. Giliigan, the headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School, on his return today from nine uionths' tour of the United Kingdom. The British eurricula still tended to be rather on the aeademic side, and it was generally conceded that New Zealand students vvho went to Britain to furtlier their studies were better informed'on general matters than English youths. ''New Zealand has not been bacJkward in experimenting educationally," Mr Giliigan' stated. "A great nuniber of headmasters I met in Britain showed a good deai of interest in the 'new' school certnicate syilabus. " ile considered it most important that the basis of education here should be oroad. Lmphasis should be laid on the agricultural and economic possibilities of the Dominion. General science and sociai studies should be encouraged. "1 am liappy- to say New Zealand is arriving at a reasonable compronnsifc between the academic and . praotical forms of education, but the teachers here rnust take eare that their subjects do not become too 'woolly' ot abstract, " added Mr Giliigan. A lceen cricketer and a brother of Mr Arthur Giliigan-, ■ l\e spoke warmly' on the esprit de corps and the exeellent management of tne New Zeaianders' tour, mentioning Tests- -which 'lle' had witnessed. Mr Giliigan said suftE cient emphasis had- not been laid on the e'xcellence of the New Zeaianders iieiding.