SCHOOL AGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 225, 17 June 1920, Page 5

SCHOOL AGE

MINISTER SUGGESTS INCREASE

IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL

REFORMS

Tho extension of the school age was ono of tho matters mentioned by the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Ptrr) when addressing the Council of Education yesterday. The primary system, said Mr. Parr, was founded 43 yesrs ago, and since then surprisingly few changes had been made in it. Lduealional knowledge, howover, had made very great progress during tho period, and New Zealand could not afford, to lag behind. Dr. Fisher,' the Minister in charge of education in Britain, had secured legislation extending the school age to sixteen years, with day-time continuation classes beyond that The Motherland had advanced faster than tho Dominions in educational matters. New Zealand must legislate 60on, said the Minister, to extend the school age to sixteen years. If Britain could do that New Zeaalnd could do it. If that were done, the elementary period could be reduced to end at J2 years of age, and the years between 12 and 16 could bo used for more advanced instruction. That second period had beqi disregarded to n large extent in New ZeaCand, although it was vitally important. Seme children would be slower than others, and hard and iaut rules could not bo laid down; bit if tho bulk of tho children completed the primary course at Hie age of twcilve years, some of them could then go to the high schools, somo to fhe technical schools and others to central schools, which would require to be established. These central schools wculd train the intelligence, while at the same time giving specialised forms of instruction in relation to the requirements of their future occupations. Limitations of teaching strength and wconiniodation had to be recognised, "but they were being overcome, and the Department might bo able shortly.to make an experiment on the lines he had suggested. The governing idea would ]>e an elementary course to the age of 12 years, with a general or vocatioaal course up to. the age d 15 or 1G years.