HIGH STANDARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19999, 26 July 1939, Page 11

HIGH STANDARD

EDUCATION SYSTEM CANADIAN’S VIEWS METHOD OF TEACHING ART The high standard of education in New Zealand and the willingness of inspectors and teachers to assimilate new methods are impressions gained by Mr. Carter B. Sitorr, Canadian exmange teacher in art, after 11 months in the Dominion. Mr. Starr, who has wfl Auckland on his return to Ottawa, has travelled extensively in New Zealand and is the originator of a method of teaching art which has been largely adopted in the Auckland education district Mr. .Storr said he had been greatly impressed with the adaptability of the inspectors and teachers in the field of modern art, about which there was always a chance of misunderstanding owing to preconceived ideas and a lack of knowledge of the new psychological angles. While the general level of education in New Zealand was higher than in Canada, Mr. Storr said, the Dominion’s (highly centralised system was lacking in three respects. The first of these was the difficulty of making changes, the second the lag in the provision of cheap materials for school work, and the third the lack of provision for bringing the teachers together to broaden their experience. “As far as art is concerned,” said Mr. Store, “there should be a better appreciation of the child’s environment, which is recognised as being of supreme importance. I was amazed to see the number of photographs of old pupils that hung on the walls. There is too much deference to the traditional spirit'instead of an appreciation of what is best for the child. “There should be more good pictures displayed in the schools, andi these should be available at a low price, as is ' the case in Canada. Children brought up with an understanding of good pictures set a standard of art in their formative years that they carry through life.”