HISTORY TEACHING

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1925, Page 4

HISTORY TEACHING

COMMITTEE’S REPORT. -MOIMv ATTENTION TO SUBJECT NEEDED. WELLINGTON, January 12. Several months’ investigation of methods of teaching h""tory in primary schools, and consideration of improved methods, by a. representative committee of experts set up by Sir James Parr, Aiinister of Education, will result in tile teaching offt-his subject receiving more attention in future. The syllabus did not make the subject a compulsory one for the Sixth Standard and Alatriciilation examinations. The Minister took exception to the fact that it seemed Lo he regarded a.s a .second-rate subject-, and pointed out that this was quite opposed to the modern view, which regarded history a,s of the greatest educational value. The Minister accordingly set up a Depart mental committee to report on the matter, the members being Afr ,T. Caughley, Director of Education, Dr. .1. flight, Professor of History at Canterbury College; Mr F. Alilner. Principal of AYaitaki Boys’ High School; Afr C. T. Ascltman. headmaster of the Normal School at Christchurch; Ali.ss At. Gibson, Principal of tile Christchurch Girls’ High School; Aliss N. P. Coad, Lecturer in History at AYellington Girls’ Cijlcge. and Afr J. F.

Wilson, headmaster of the North Brighton School;

The committee has compiled two reports dealing with teaching of the subject in primary and secondary schools respectively, and the Minister stated that the contents were of the tit most value. The very latest dicta on the subject have been collated, including reports of commissions, both in Great Britain and America, and the committee has sought to make the modern principles outlined hv authorities abroad applicable to Ne w Zealand. The coin - mittee lias done more than enunciate general principles, however, for it has gone into practical details, and has devised new programmes and courses for all types of school. A siib-eOmniittee which dealt with ihe work in secondary schools passed two resolutions, asking the University Senate to make history compulsory for the Matriculation examination, and to allot a greater proportion of marks for the subject.

The time-table must, lie revised. Sir .Tames Parr stated. He proposes to circulate the reports after they have been printed, with, the object of inviting helpful suggestions and of enabling teachers to become thoroughly acquainted with the principles laid down, and with the new programme suggested. HV hoped that staffs would he in a position to undertake the teaching of the subject- on new lines ns from the liegmning of next- year. Alter a lull discussion of the proposal bv teachers’ associations and inspectors, and with the aid of the Educational Institute and the ‘'National Journal of Education. ’* the teachers in schools should be able to start next year with full knowledge of. the new requirements. Incidentally it would he necessary to apply the principles laid down in the reports to the instruction of young teachers at training colleges. Sir James said ho thought a great deal could lie accomplished in placing the subject iu the largest schools under history specialists. The rank and lilo of teachers could greatly improve their equipments. One thing was quite clear that the present school time-table, which gave about, one hour per week to instruction in history, must he revised without delay. When the scheme was explained to teachers he hoped they wonhl he able to kindle some enthusiasm for the subject, the undoubted claims of which demanded additional time in curriculum and additional in-

terest on the part of the teachers themselves. The Minister said he wished to givegreat. credit to members of the committee for their excellent work. They had gone very exhaustively and patiently into the inquiry, and as a result of iheir work he hoped a big improvement would soon he effected in the teaching of history in schools.