PRIMARY SCHOOL COURSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 9

PRIMARY SCHOOL COURSE

AN AGE mm.

3 .SCHEME FOR INVESTIGATION

A statement ha-ring; Appeared to the effect that the Wellington Education Board had approved a proposal for the curtailment of t'ho primary school course to scholars up to twelve years of ago, "tho board at its meeting en Wednesday I'oplied as follows to a criticism that omanated from the local branch i-f the Teachers' Institute:— "The resolution to which the Wellington branch of tho institute has taken exception did not originate with the WolJington Education Board, but was one of four based on a report by Mr. John H. Howell, director of the Christcliurch Technical College, and sent by the managers of the Wellington Technical College to the board. Besides tho fact that Buch a. proposition should hardly be read apart from its context, it is to be said ihat Mr. Howell is an expert who lias travolled, observed, read, and studied this particular problem, so that it may he his opinion is wortlu' of Impartial nnd careful consideration. The resolution of the board was meant to convey that in its opinion a valid case had been presented for investigation. The unfortunate gap between the primary and the secondary courso, of which not only every expert, but every parent whose children have passed through the primary into the secondary school is awnre (calls for some reform in the ourriculnn which shall weld our educational systen .into one continuous and harmomou: ■ whole. The proposals as tho board un tferstands them provide for:— (1) A pritnarv course with exit abou tho twelfth year, but on a basis c , attainment, not of age only, to (2) A. junior secondary oj' tcchiiica •• 'Course compulsory for every-chilj from the twelfth to the fifteentl year, thus extending the age o Compulsory attendance by one year (3) Free secondary or technical educa Hon from 15 to 19 years of age fo !• those who show merit __ - ; (i) Tree University college training o

a similar basis of selection. "Tho proposals do not include early •Vocational training or specialisation, •'int rather they prevent it. ' "It is to be added that Mr. Howell iand those who think with him are in 'error, at all events they err in excellent icompany. The National Headmasters Association of Great Britain (with a Membership of nearly 6000), in a state'sment of the reforms it advocates, which was published in the educational supplement of the Loudon "Times" of March 29, includes the transfer of the pupil to the secondary course at about tho age of (twelve years. The Assistant Masters' 'Association in tho issue of July 19 advocates the same reform. Tho last report of the Genera! Education; Board of ;sfew York shows that the board has en- ; gaged the best experts it can find to investigate the question of the junior high school. The report of the Commissioner of Education of the United States of 3914 contains a full discussion of the subject, and the report of tho National Edujcational Association of America for 1916 shows that tho question k America is a very live one.

"Tho question is to some extent one ■ifor. the experts, and certninly ray board does not favour a present entry on a large development scheme. That must foe, if at all, for the future. It is, how;ever, a safe principle in time of war to took ahead and prepare for the liattles of peace. For the present'the necessary must suffice. For the future, the >Vle : tennining consideration must be the highest welfare of the child."