SCHOOL SYLLABUS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 4

SCHOOL SYLLABUS.

THE FRILLS OF EDUCATION. . (Bt ■■ tSSOCUTIOiI.) ' Auoldand, May 26. At this morning's meeting of the Auckland Eduoatic«i' Board tho chairman (Mr. C. J. Parr) said he desired to see a conference of teachers and inspectors go into tie very important question of tho<school syllabus. l The Minister for Education had recently said that tho inspectors 'were misinterpreting the syllabus. This might or might not be correct, but the conference he "suggested holding could go into tho truth of' wie matter. At tho present time history and geography were subjects very much in the background, and brushwork and similar subjects seemed 'to occupy a more prominent position , upon the curriculum. If might say so, they appeared to bo emphasising the frills of' edueacation. In his opinion, it was desirable that they should hold a conference such as he suggested during the mid-winter holidays. • Mr. H. J. Greenslado, M.P.,said tho matter was one of tho greatest importance, and lie thought the chairman's suggestion irould lead to a possible solution of the difficulty which undoubtedly existed, He further suggested that similar conferences should bo held throughout the Dominion. : Mr. Edgecombe contended that tho syllabus was overloaded, with the result that no subjcct was properly taught. His experience as a commercial man was that a thorough grounding in the three "R's" was of more value than. Latin and French. . These were of no use to the average citizen of New Zealand..... Mr. G. J. Garland said that when the syllabus came out be expressed tho opinion that it was'hard to know which it was—a syllabus or .an incubus—and ho in just as great doubt now _It was unanimously decidcd, on the motion of the chairman, to convene a conference of members of the board, inspectors, and teachers at an early date to inquire into tho workmg of the school syllabus.