EDUCATION CHANCES.

Evening Star, Issue 20135, 27 March 1929, Page 8

EDUCATION CHANCES.

It would be safe to say, probably, that there has been more discussion of education in this country in tho last two years than in the seven years preceding. That is all to the good. Education is a most costly national service. It is essential that tho best value should bo got for it. A new conviction has grown recently that tho transition from primary to secondary studies should ho made earlier, with much less abruptness, than has hitherto been tho case. That change lias been provided for, in principle, by the new syllabus, which makes the primary course end at Standard IV. and about the age of twelve, and continues with classes which arc alternatively called Forms 1., 11., and 111., loading tho way to higher studies. Hut it is still undetermined where these higher classes shall be held: in the primary schools, in the secondary schools, or in separate establishments —junior high schools proper. That makes the problem of a new Minister (ilon. Air Atmore), wiio is waiting for (ho opinions of the teachers’ conferences to ho hold in Wellington a few weeks from now before pronouncing his decisicin on it. Mr Atmore has had a good deal to say—or ho has said some things a large number of times—about the whole question. Unfortunately it i-s almost impossible to speak briefly about such a many-sided subject as education without grave risk of ambiguity and misunderstanding. It might he gathered from some of Air Almore's remarks that no progress whatever had been made towards this object of the reorganisation of education which Is admitted to be necessary—that the new syllabus, which all tho educational authorities of the country have had a hand in preparing, was still liable to be jettisoned at a moment’s nolice. Air Atmore thinks that education should he made more directly- conducive to production and wage earning, and there is no doubt that it has had a wrong bins in the past. Hut it cannot he made completely utilitarian for all pupils at all stages. Education lias been deli tied as a. preparation for life; it cannot be restricted to a preparation for hootniaking, or even for wheatgrowing, or it will not he education at all. And the object of giving every child “ individual treatment ” under a State system will always he unrealisahlc. What is necessary- is to strike a moan, and find the best tiling, embodying the greatest number of needs as fully as possible, which it is practicable to do. We take it that the new .syllabus stands. After two years that worn spent on its preparation by experts it, is not likely to ho improved on much in a few weeks. It docs not make agriculture the hrsb of studies, as Air Almore lias suggested. It gives that place to the English language. Hut it is an attempt to combine more culture with more practicality. We have had programmes for tho reorganisation of our system in plenty that of Air Tate’s report of 1923 and the Majority and Aliiiority Reports of the Syllabus Revision Committee. Air A. G. Hoteliers, of Invercargill, now performs a service iu comparing and contrasting, in a thoughtful pamphlet, these recommendations, emphasising what they- have in common, and proposing, from those recommendations which have had most support, » solution of problems which seems more likely to meet our needs than any ocher. Unfortunately tho first recommendation which lie makes to bring all types of education, primary, secondary, technical, and university, under single instead of multiple local authorities—will require a great deal of thought before it can he adopted. Wo can only stale that Hie executive of the Now /calami Educational Institute is with him on this point (though it is not clear that it would include the university colleges), and pass on. As regards the new ago termination Impurely primary studios. Air Butchers notes that this “ i.s now, happily, an accomplished fact,” thanks to the new syllabus, and proceeds: “All that is needed in addition is tho formal decision of the Alinistcr that the introduction of secondary subjects therein prescribed after tho completion of Standard IV., and the close of the primary course at that stage, should he definitely and conspicuously marked by the universal and compulsory- adoption of the new nomenclature, Forms 1., 11., and HU, in all types of schools, for tho throe succeeding years of study. The reform will then ho complete, as the Aliiiority Report recommends, without any additional expenditure, and the way opened for Ihc immediate reorganisation and revitalisation of the secondary schools.’’ Mr Butchers, following tho Aliiiority Report and Air Tate’s recommendations, strongly opposes any mass transference of the twelve to fourteen years’ pupils to present high schools. They should go to those only if they are qualified to profit by a course of secondary training, and if their parents are prepared to give a written promise, with certain reservations, that they will remain to complete the course upon which they enter. Following Air 'Pate, ho believes that separate junior high schools, where they- are needed, should be confined to those pupils who have no intention of going beyond their course. That would appear to he the natural use for them. We quite fail to see the logic of making a new order of schools for pupils who intend to go on to high schools, and calling that improved co-ordina-tion.

“ Before accepting you 1 ought to tell you one of my parents is in prison.” “ On, that’s all right. Both of mine ought to be.”

There will bo no publication of the ‘ Evening Star ’ on Good Friday. An emphatic denial that the water from Sullivan’s Dam had been turned into the Leith on the night of the hood was given by Cr W. Bcgg at the meeting in the George Street Hall last night. Mr R, .Ferguson said the rumour had been prevalent, and a ratepayer asked why the Leith, liad dropped bft in an hour. Cr Begg said that the dam was safe, and next morning the water was running over it. The annual meeting of the Otago University Literary Society was held last night, Mr A. D. Trcndall presiding over an attendance which was only lair. The annual report stated , that the society had made a definite step forward, and good attendances had been attracted by the bright and original subjects that bad been chosen for discussion. Having referred to the interesting nature of the address given at the public meetings, the report went on to say that the poem and short story competitions had drawn forth a larger number of entries than previously, and the standard bad suffered no depreciation. The following office-bearers were elected : President, Mr A. D. Trendall; vice-pre-sident, Miss H. I. Johnston; secretary, Mr D. S. Millar; committee—Misses D. H. Cowic. A. M. M'Gvat.b. Joan M‘Grath, Mr I. G. Garden, Mr J. G. Dakin.

At a meeting of flic Broad Bay Boating Club, held last evening, to consider the actions of the. Otago Yacht ami Motor Boat Association in expelling the North-east Harbour Boating Club, the following resolutions were carried unanimously ;—“That this club endorses tlje decision of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association in expelling the Northeast Harbour Boating Club.” “That boat owners of this club refrain from racing in any regatta and chib race not under the jurisdiction of flic Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, and tint no entry will be received from any boat owner belonging solely to a club not affiliated with "the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association.” Just before the departure of H.M.S. Dunedin yesterday afternoon for Lyttelton the secretary of the Harbour Board (Mr W. J. Bardsloy) paid a last visit to the ship on behalf of the hoard. There was a big crowd on the Rattray street wharf to bid farewell to the naval visitors. As the cruiser steamed towards the Victoria Channel the volunteer baud stationed on the deck played suitable music.

Recently .Air J. W. Alunro, ALt’., made representations to the Minister of Defence that, as wives of officers ot tin; N.ow Zealand Navy wore allowed the privilege of tree railway passes to the ports where the ship in which they were interested happened to be, naval ratings should also be granted these pusses It is learned from the Minister'.; office that Air Alunro Mas under a. misapprehension in the matter. No free passes are, granted to officers’ wi\es for railway travel.

The postal authorities advi.-e that the s.s. Rangit iki, due at, Wellington to-day from Loudon, has twenty hags of mail and .120 parcel receptacles tor Dunedin. 1 lie mail matter should reach here, on Thursday afternoon, and the parcels on Saturday. “The D. .system has grown from £.1,000 to £1.50,000 in seven years, and what it will he in another seven years I cannot possibly imagine,'’ said Air ,1. Sutherland Ross, president of the Dunedin .Manufacturers’ Association, at an executive meeting last evening. Air Ross stated that they had been informed that only the International Po-da! Conference could deal with this matter. As Air APNamara, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, was now on his way to the conlerencc in London, ho certainly thought that Sir Joseph Ward should he approached in the matter of instructing Air APNamarn to cut out the system absolutely as far as New Zealand was concerned. It was decided that the president and Alessrs T. Somerville and J. H. Stewart should wait on Sir Joseph Ward and put the .matter before him.

The construction f >l *l'° dredge Otiikou is so far advanced that April 10 has been fixed as the date of launching, according to cable advice received hv the secretary (Mr W. J. Hardsfey) from the superintending engineer (Air J. Robertson). Authority exists for continuing the paving of the Alain South road as lar as the Taieii bridge, just west of Henley, and part of this will go on in due course after the Main Highways Hoard has completed the section at present in hand beyond Green Island.

Although no manual or mechanical operations are in progress on the new Post Office site between Princes and Bond streets, the work of preparing for the giant, structure is going on as fast as possible. r l he recoro ol the gioiind compression tests is completed, and lias been sent to 'Wellington as a guide to the Government architect in planning the foundations, so as to give immovable stability to what will be the heaviest building in Dunedin. Mr M. Stevenson’s ’ excavation contract is finished. Possibly more spoil will have to be taken out," but not at present. No business at the Police Court this morning.

The cantata ‘Olivet to Calvary ’ was sung by the St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir to an appreciative■ congregation in the Cathedral last evening. Under the direction of Air 10. Hoywnod the choir gave -a convincing performance of Maunder’s well-known work, singing with splendid uniformity and spirit. A collection was taken up to augment the choir funds, and a generous response was made.

During the dismantling of a portion of the old plant at the Hurl Chalmers gasworks to-day an escape of gas took place, and, igniting it, set lire to the wooden lining of a nearby wall. The fire brigade extinguished the fire before mucirdamage was done.

During the interval at (lie Regent Theatre last evening -Mr R. S. Black briefly addressed tlie audience on (lie needs of the Hood sulfprers. end said that in the past the Dunedin public had always been ready to assist in a needy cause. After the session £ll 12s was collected outside the theatre. The Benevolent Committee of the Otago Hospital Board reports that it has dealt with seventeen eases for relief at a, weekly cost of £lO 10s (id. Casual eases for relief amounting to £357 19s 3d have been approved. That the Hospital Board has no room in the Benevolent Institution for patients other than from the Otago district is the gist of a reply which has been sent to the Director-General of Health in regard to accommodation in the Otago Benevolent Institution and Infirmary Ward for patients from outside this district.

The Hospital Committee of the Otago Hospital Board reports having received a statement from the visiting medical staff, Dunedin Hospital, upon the use of radium and the results of its treatment in the Dunedin Hospital; copies of the statement have been supplied to the members of the hoard. A subcommittee consisting of the chairman, Mr Dove, and Drs Newlands and Batchelor has been appointed to get into touch with_ Sir L. E. Barnett with a view to waiting upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to arrange a campaign for the collection of about £12,000 for the purchase of extra radium.

At lasi night’s meeting of the executive of Iho Dunedin City Ratepayers’ Association the secretary reported that it had been brought to his notice that the ratepayers’ selections for the City Council, Harbour Hoard, and the Hospital Hoard would be United Party tickets. The report he emphatically denied, fur they would he noii-poliitcal tickets. About -JOO shareholders to-day attended a meeting to discuss the proposal to sell the South Otago .Freezing Works to the New Zealand Refrigerating Company. After hearing speakers for and against a ballot was taken, resulting;—Against the sale 2,692, lor the sale 1,662, the majority for retaining the. works being 1,660. Guarantees approximating 120,000 head oi stock were given by fanners of the disti ict,— Halclutlja correspondent. A Christchurch Association telegram states that ihc Hospital Board to-day discussed the continued prevalence ot scarlet fever in Canterbury, and decided to ask the district health officer for a special report. With the object of making a. protest against the increasing nunihei of Sunday trains, a. deputation from the hwal Council of Christian Congregations will wait, on the Minister oi Railways (the Hon. W. H. Taverner) to-morrow afternoon . 'The wooden building now being erected on the. Cargill road frontage of tJio Hillside Railway Workshops ground is to bo the manager’s office. Air C. Graham and his predecessors have hitherto been housed in cramped quarters that from its looks might be a sceond-graclc storeroom. The members of the Hoard of Agriculture who toured Central Otago last neck, charged with the duty of advising the Government as to what to do with the report of the Irrigation .Inquiry Committee, went through the region in four days. The committee that made the report took close on Four months to complete its incpiirics. ‘Moreover, all the members of the board hut one—Mr James Hegg—were strangers to the district., this being their first visit. On those facts the people there arc wondering how the board can be qualified to competently advise the Jt mav he noted, however, if the local knowledge acquired by the board is ever challenged as,insufficient, that in some places the settlers did not make a point of properly getting into touch and stating their grievances. A 'Wellington Press Association telegram states that Percy Williams _ Solly, who was sentenced on Monday in the Supreme Court to two years' imprisonment for forgery and uttering, was ,sentenced to three months m the Magistrate's Court to-day for having obtained C2 from Dr Kemp by means of a false pretence. Frank Blackball), who _ was also sentenced to two ye and imprison- 1 nient on Monday, was similarly sentenced for the theft of six blank cheque forms and a gold ring.