FREE SPEECH

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 20

FREE SPEECH

CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT

A MOENING TALK

(From Our Own Correspondent) '''■':■. NELSON, 29th September. • Not.so many years ago stern masters and: "-ma'ams" were considered indispensable for the proper education of theTising generation, and had one child speaking to the class (oven if that were allowed) 'been interrupted: by a classmater "Exclise: me, Lorna, but would you please) correct, your English; you said' Mist'''for <just' ", there would have 'teen a ' 'scene" and a child suffering the ■ effects- of a strap or cane. But conditions.. haye changed. The freest 'possible speech is allowed and the children in this way teach themselves.':Fe rr :discussions of lessons,anct everv-day topics are encouraged, and the Nelson Central School is an example which proves that the system is not followed, by any evil conscquonces. .Years ago teachers stood over the pupils compelling . silence whilst they lectured the class in an effort to cram facts-,*rob dry i.text books, into the youthful brains. But at the Central the: children, are, no. longer; forbidden to- speak, to express their ideas, or to ask questions, ■On the contrary, each oije is a very important unit of the class, both as a gainerand imparter 'of knowledge, .Each class is governed by \ its.members and depends on its teacher wore as a guide than as a master. It is' a community offort, and a very ploasant.way, df.:learning.' Every child takes aJshare'in the niankgOment -arid teach-ing'.':and-rwould- disdain to be' talkative or.rowdyv, -.'■'. ''....' .: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. ? the'first item on. the day's programme'at the Central School this niorhing • was the. ''Morning Talk;''/ About - 50: senior boys ■'• and girls were assembled in the room in charge of Mr; Bieilby. The age. of none exceeded 14 year.s, but it' was, noticeable that the presence of a-stranger (a reporter) had no; effect on. their. bearing; they were absolutely free-from self-conscioushess.-Tlieir primary'duty, was to ascertain thei'times. of- sunrise and-sunset, state of(;the* tides, barometer, and thermometer- readings, type 1 of clouds in the sky,, and direction ofwind. They freelyiieonsulte/d books and charts while a giiX waited at the^ blackboard, to write dbjvn ■ the': findings. ■' ■ y . ■"How many.niore minutes daylight are' there, to-day than, yesterday. Bay 1?' aSk^d a girl. ' " Two,_": came the ansXrer. -.'/Pp.youV.'aJl 'agree with that?.'' asked the' girl of the class. A chorus of-"yes," anjd the record was made on the board. ... When .times,of .sunrise-and•'• sunset we're1 being: determined a girl asked: "Could you.demonstrate:day and,night oifethe^globe, Jack?" Jack went to the front and demonstrated the rotation of-i'the earth an&.the effect of the sun's jiyision'it^:''-)^:- :''r ■■: : "■■'.'.' :.'■" . ,"What are' tides, .Fred?" was asked. Tred -tobk three- mates to. the',front and;igate'.his| demonstration, the bbys representing 'sun,'moon, and eartH.."Po you all- agree that? ".asked the original questioner 'after' Fred's explanation. .'::'..." ~ ,-. .■ ' .'■' .''No,'' canie the-instant reply, and SO; tlie. services of 'Maurieo were called on to snow the.class and Fred where aistmistake hptl'rb.ecjn: .. . , J.1' Speak nijprcj.oudly please, Maurice," hei.was, poht6ly; asked ; during -his . ex-; planation.'.', ';.':;_';": '■--."■'' ;.-■"--""■' ;, So the lesson went on, each boy and girl taking part in tho questions and answers till the chart had been completed. ,:■.-'• '■ •■ ' •■■ ■ DAILY TOPICS DISCUSSED. Several •:. children produced clippings froni the previous day's paper and read them to:t.he.'class.; .. : . . ' BrUco"^went_ to. the front '.and talked , for- a;sliort'-while- on \KingSford Smith's flight: to ''^England, explaining that he Had :a iiarrow escape from crashing wherihe fainted at 3000 ft and went to lOO'Oft; before he recovered. "What is making, him faint1?" asked one in .the class. "Oh, I think' ho is only., giving himself, four, hours' sleep ea.«h night as he is trying vto, break Mollisoh's record' for. the flight," replied Bruce, "What nationality is Kingsford Smith, Bruce ?"-^-:"Australiaii.^ . "Has he' any other records?"—"Yes,.his Pacific flight and" his trip from Australia to New Zealand''and back." "What make of _machine- is it?"—"A Gypsy Moth, I think." "Excuse me, Bruce, it's .an Ayro-Ayian,"\ another pupil corrected. The route being : taken was" traced on the mapyby Bruce. ; , , The ;riejc,{ clipping, read was a,report rec^iyeldi-fcy.;a Nelson firm on 'the wool market < atijfionie." "'The- meaning of "<;rossbre,d!^ 'took- a- little elucidating; at liejigih'M hoy,: evidently with agricul-tural-bias, successfully explained the matter.: "What does it mean by 'greasymerino,'.Ngaire?" "I think that iswool wjiioh has- not been scoured.",. ■';■ torna read a cable message stating »that two French Ministers were visiting Germany, the first visit of its kind since 1870, and that it was hoped better, relations . between the countries •vrould result. "Why did the Ministers go-';to"> Germanj'?" held up the class for amoin^nt^hut,^ Bulted'in;a.;boy answering,. ''Tliey are trijirig to make peacbl"-—"They're not at ; war,' so why: do' ydu they want peace?''-came-'from;another quarter. ;: IMPJROVINOBELATIONS. "Why has ]it been so long since iPr.ench Ministers went to Germany?" was .another question. .Finally it was dOeidfid that the countries had not been on good terms since 1870 and ah effort ■was being made to better trade cbn'ditions...-/ ;:, ;'.; ' ; .-,'' . .... ■{Che;,Germann-ail-ear which had made • •■record speedl was1 the-next subject under' discussion, introduced by Noel^ "Tie English cricketers have left Soilthampton on their return and received a message from the Prince of Wales'- hoping they had enjoyed the tour in spite of the weather," said one hoy.—~''l have .'to disagree With you; it ivajr'.the' New Zealand- cricketers who left," corrected a. classmate. "Yes, that is* so, ;thank you .for correcting' me," was' the reply. Tho names of the crickqters were mentioned and a photograph o^;them on the.wa 11 was referred to. Frank spoke of the anti-Japanese feeling in. China as the result of the Japanese occupation Of Manchui'ia. Certain questions were asked about the. differences between Japan and China, and the names of the capital tosirns which were pointed out on the mapj , ' '■••■• ':'- ■. ■. ■'• .At the end of each:"talk" the most iniporta'nt item discussed is decided. j"What is-the most ■important item debated this morning?" was asked by a plipil.—"The cricketers," came. one reply .~"NOi the wool prices," said Joyce. "Do you all agree with Joyce?" asked the :girl in charge of the board. As unanimous agreement with Joyce was the answer, "Wool sales" was recorded on the chart under the heading of "Day's most important item." Although only briefly mentioned.. hert the discussions produced a wonderful amount of information. •INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHT. Mr. H. M'Clune, M-ho is a keen supporter of the training of free speech as practised'ih:his-scliool, said the effect of the 'system was noticeable in the pupil.?' lessons, in their conversational powers,,and in their polite conduct both

in.the classroom and in the playground. He could trust them, to continue a lesaon and conduct themselves properly in his absence and to supervise their own lesson. He contended that the training in management and independence of thought andvaction encouraged in the school would proVe of immeasurable value to the pupils in after life.