TRAINING THE YOUNG.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1974, 3 February 1914, Page 2

TRAINING THE YOUNG.

TUB JtONTESSORI SYSTEM. Educationists will be interested in several important suggestions which Mi-. G. D. Brai'k, director of education, has made to the Wangamii Board as a result of his recent trip to Australia, particularly with regard to the training of infants, agricultural education, and the way in which tiro domestic problem might bo successfully overcome^ Mo recwjimcnds: I'. That sense trninhjg; According to the spirit and. method <af the Monttissofi system, should supplement training hi nature study, chiefly with, a view to tho provision of an improved basis for instruction in ordinary school subjects. 2. That when Miss Alexander returns from Sj'dwe.J the mistresses of the larger schools visit the Central Infants' School at Wanganvii for the purpofie of studying the spirit and method of the Montijssori system. S- That (the board shotild consider the expediency of establishing separate agriculture eclroolf. The ijreseflt system Of according education in district high schools was a compromise by which book work and agricultural pupilii alike siiffei'. it should be possible tor pu-. pils leaving the primary schools to receive an education that would fit them to enter on agricultural pursuits at the ; Eg.is of 16 or 17, The agricultural celJeges woiild look for their supply of students ltot so much to the agri-otiltural ■ schools as to the fiecondnfy schools. A. That' the system of woodwork instrtie-ti-on slioiikl ire. remodelled with'a view to ijringiMjf it into more imrnediate touch with the everyday lives pf pupils. S. That other boards of the Dominion be eotfuiitmicated wJtli to find -out whether they would agr«e to 00-opfiratron ■ in tho yrodtiction of school desks. 0. That to give finality to the work of tho girls taking the domestic course at district- liigli schools, an effort should bo made to give them sqnio insight into the entire range of household ainnaefe m.eirt-, ' .

It! coMiiectjoM with the latter pro-po-sitiou Mr. Bi-aik makw the follo/iying observations:—"Through the kindness of farmers.and others our bovs ate in a position to leant at, first Wd tins management and judging of stock, sheen shearing niid wool cliisJing ' butter and eljeeso .makiiig,- an.cl ojrcWdinj*. Would it be too much to expert sonic, of our hoiiseh.olders to -hand , , over,- as , a\ninliing coiii-er-Hj and iioiisekeopiftg for; a short period, to our tloraestic course girls,under tfie direction 61; their instructors, so that the giri.jr may.-have the. opportunity «if, learning the domplet.? art of hqilsckceiang? tte : sufigfistion, if T«alfsed,' wonki at least solve the domestic problem for a tiirio."