THE TEACHING OF HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 136, 6 December 1933, Page 7

THE TEACHING OF HISTORY

Some ' criticism of the teaching of history was rnado by Canon A. H. JSTorTis at Christchurch on Friday when he was addressing the boys and girls who had won Navy League > prizes or certificates, states the "Press." Tho word "history," he said, must sound very dull indeed, and he did not wonder at it, if they were approaching matriculation standard, as somo fof them would be. Canon Norris said ho did not think there was anything more futile, or ridiculous, or damaging to the mind of a girl or boy than tho system of teaching history which was encouraged by thoso who set tho subject for matriculation. It was simply impossible for any boy or girl of matriculation.age to learn the history of the Empire over • a period, of nearly 2000 years as they were expected to do, and to learn it in such a way-that they would really know something of the manner of : living of past generations. They could learn dates of battles, reigns of kings, and a number of dry facts about Parliaments, but no boy or. girl could learn in tho right way the history of 2000 years as they were expected to do at present. They could learn history and find it most intensely interesting if they obtained history books telling of the lives of men and women of past generations, and they u-otild find them just as thrilling as any pf tho books of-Edgar Wallace!