EDUCATION AFTER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 6

EDUCATION AFTER

THE WAR Conference This Year

ROYAL SOCIETY TO SEND DELEGATE

"It is becoming increasingly evident, not only in New Zealand but throughout, the British Commonwealth, that after the war there must be a great expansion in the scope of education, particularly to cater for those below and beyond, the present limits of compulsory schooling,” said the Minister of Education, Mr. Mason, in a letter received by the council of the Royal Society of New Zealand at its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday. He was inviting the society to send a delegate to a conference to be held in Christchurch in August for the purpose of discussing post-war developments in education. “Genuine advances in education, though they may be fostered by a Government, cannot simply* radiate from some central authority.” said the Minister. “The great bulk of the people must not only understand what is afoot, , but must also take an active part in working out the kind of education system they want for themselves and their children. “It would appear from the great amount of evidence available that the following are among questions urgent in the minds of parents, teachers, and the general public:—(i) Should there be further development of pre-school facilities for children under the age of five years? (2) How can tlie Government and other interested organizations assist in developing increased facilities for the cultiral and leisure-time activities of adolescent youth and young people beyond the school-leaving age? (3) How can the community develop better facilities for adult education, and what part should the State play in this development? “These are problems which are not at present covered by a fully-developed policy, and upon which the Government is anxious to have the view of the conference,” said the Minister, inviting suggesThe appointment of a delegate and the formulation of suggestions were, left to the standing committee. . Dr. G. Archey (Auckland) said the society had a definite responsibility to try to develop the interest of the community in scientific matters. .. Dr. O. H. Frankel (Canterbury) said that from the conference there was bound to arise an organization for'adult education exceeding in scope that now existing. “We should take note of informal ways by which science can be brought to the man in the street.” he said. He suggested greater use of films and museums and other mediums which were lively ana had plenty of variation. “The a«n«t doesn’t want to be taught, be wants to be interested,” he said. Post-Primary Curriculum.

A sub-committee reported as follows on the findings of the committee set up by the Minister of Education to consider the post-primary school curriculum:"On the whole the proposed curricula in science are a considerable advance on anvthing hitherto attempted, specially in regard to biology.' Teachers should be made fully aware'of the importance of simple direct observational studies of the pupils’ environment, specially in the core subiect, general science. , “More specific directions wou.d be preferable to general statements, in guidthe teachers, that is under ‘the broad geological features of the pupils’ immediate environment,’ there should be specific statement of the basic materials of man s environment —rocks, with an elementary study of the kinds and uses of rbeks, minerals. sands and clays. Some treatment of volcanoes, mountain-building, and the work of the sea should be given. A more 10-ical and ordered arrangement of the items listed in the syllabus would conduce to a more reasoned and adequate treatment by the teacher. . “In the treatment of biology more distinct emphasis should be laid on the biologv of man. In the treatment of electricity nnd magnetism in the optional sutijeets more attention should be given to practical applications.” • The report was adopted after some criticism, mainly by Dr. Archey, who contended that there was too much emphasis already on human biology, or physiology, and not enough on broad, natural history. '