SCHOOL SOVIET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 4

SCHOOL SOVIET

PUPILS MAKE THEIR OWN RULES.

Among the (astonishing medley of new theories being attempted at Englis schools is the setting up of a «?rt of. Soviet in the class (states tho Ixindon “Daily Mail”). In one co-educationoJ school the boys and girls are instructed to decide for themselves just how they shall bo marked by their master; how, much given for each subject and on what principle the marks are to be allotted. P More than this, they are at libertjto haul their master over the coals he is adjudged to have transgressed certain rules? The argument is that all children are more likely to obey making than rules imposed from The master is allowed to be present at the Soviet, but he may only make suggestions and has no more power—he may have less intluenbe-than any other member of the form or class He must in any case obey and adopt the final verdict Outside the Soviet the principle of the so-called Montessori teaching is being ex. tended to older as well as younger children. It is that pupils should do what they like doing; and in certain eases individual pupils are left for a number of lessons entirely to their own devices. It is said by those who hare had experience of tho system in working that the girls take much more kindly to it than the boys.