EDUCATION TRENDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 143, 5 July 1937, Page 4

EDUCATION TRENDS

"N.Z. Must Eventually Accept UnificatioIl,, DR. KANDEL'S OPINION The opinion that eventually New Zealand will have to adopt unification of control of education was voiced by Dr. I. L. Kandel, of Columbia University, New York, when addressing members of the Hastings and Napier branehes of the New Zealand Educational Institute. At the outset Dr. Kandel said that since he had been in New Zealand he had been greatly impressed by the widespread interest that was taken in educational oiatters in the Domiuion, "During the past deeade education has been shaken to its foundations," he said, "The world, through modern means of travel, has becoroe much smaller, so that the field of possible interest is becoming smaller in many directions, and all are bound to face the fact that living has become much more complex. Thus there is a new orientation in education. The time has passed for bringing pupils together and compelling them to learn certa in subjects. ' ' The time had passed, he added, when they could regard as separate "elementary for the masses and secondary for the classes." The sole aim of education was not departing from illiteracy. A new situation had arisen and attention must be turned tp the modern world to discover what type of education was best. Since the beginning of the 20th. century, and morq espeeialjy 60 since the war, new forces had come kb changing the whole character of the world, he pointed out, Largely through science, the size of the world had been reduced and thero was also the application of science to industry, with dpvelopments in technology and " improvements in conveniences. The stimulation of the public through the Press, radio, and moving pictnres was a force that had to receive the educator 's attention. Clash of Ideals Another force bringing about a gradual change in national interest was the realisation of how closely bound up we were with the rest of the world. There was the clash of ideals such as existed in the totalitarian countries, whether Fascist, Nazi or Gommunist, while on the other hand the English-speaking countries still had a strong faith in the free institution, The latter had awakened to the realisation that they mnst cneet the educational challenge. "Democracy," Dr. Kandel said, * 'if it is to continue to exist, mnst solve the problem of the present-day needs in education. The task of preserving the rjghts of the individual and training for freedom in thinking, is inevitably educational, and one of the best national investme'nts is money expended on education." Dr. Kandel went on" ■ to say that attention was now being given to nursery sehools, starting when the child was two years old and giving attention to health, environment, companionship and diet. An active, healthy life was extremely important to development. This nursery school was followed by a primary oourse until tbe age of IX or 12 years. The next stage, the intermediate or po§t-primary stage, would set out to discover and advance tbe abilities and aptitudes of each pupil aud must adapt its courses to suit the individual needs, Here, Dr. Kandel said that the great educational authorities of the day were agreed that this eourse should not take less than three years, The two-year eourse was considered by all to be too short for the important work entrusted to .it. Again, this eourse mnst not be made at the expense of any other part of the child' s school life as no one part was more important than any other. A Continuous Process. "Education is a continuous process and a very important one, for nowadays the sehools have to educate the pupils to face and understand the problems of the ever-changing world in which we live," he said. "Again, more and more oitizens have to be intelligent about the problems on which they vote. "Even as' the present courses have had to give way and will have to chang(e more, so. the New Zealand educational system must eventually accept unification of control and organisation," said the speaker. "The unified system will take care of the child's pbysical well-being first and on this build a system. wbich, while giving the cbild an education to handle the problems of our complex world and setting him out on a eourse that suits him, will provide for arts, crafts, music and drama— that is, provide an education that will prepare the child not only for work but also for leisure ; even more important is this part where a 40-hour week -is worked. "Tlxe child* will have to participate in what he is learning. It means the end of lai'ge classes. It means new types of equipment and accessories; in fact, it means a new viewpoint. The whole question is a very serious problem, for the children of to-day will be to-morrow's citizens, upon whom will fall the burden of intelligently governing their own State or of having something worse »befall them." , Thanks to Dr, Kandel fqr his inspiring address was voiced by Mr G. A, Maddison, chairman of the Hawke's Bay Education Board, and the Hon. W. 10. Ravnard. M.P.