NEW SYLLABUS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1928, Page 3

NEW SYLLABUS

INS i EBUTTON EUR HRI.MARY SCI LOOKS. WELLINGTON, AI ay 4. The lion. R. A. Wright, .Minister of Education, announced to-day that the new syllabus of instruction for primary schools which had been in preparation for some time was now ready, and advance copies were being issued to teachers immediately.- The .Minister stated that the syllabus was' not to come into operation until next year hut was being issued at Inis early date in order that teachers might have an opportunity of becoming familiar with its contents and that the various teachers’ organisation.- might, have an opp.wt unity of making const met ivo suggestions for further improving the syllabus before it wa.s gaze tied under Order-in-Couucil. An early issue «its also necessary to enable new text-books to he prepared for use next. year. The Minister further said : "The present syllabus Infs been in force for eight years and great changes in educational thought and practice have taken place since it was issued. Educationists the world over are urging ihe desirability of bringing the schools into closer touch with the life of the people. There is always a tendency for methods of education to become too cloistered and tints out of touch with the social environment. The now syllabus aims to remove this defect. Greater stress is being laid on education of a practical type hut at the same time the new syllabus is more broadly cultural than any of its predecessors. A further aim is to bridge the gap between the primary and the secondary schools by introducing in a very gradual and very simple manner in the higher primary school classes Llie elements of so-called secondary subjects. Provision has been made for the rapid advance from class to class of pupils who are able to progress more quiekly than their fellows so that the reproach of retarding the brilliant child will no longer he levelled at the primary schools. At the same time supplementary courses are provided to enable pupils who are more brilliant in one subject than in another to advance along the lines ol their special

aptitudes. The fullest freedom will he given teachers to modity the syllabus in any reasonable manner in accordance with the needs of theii pupils or the character of the district in which they are situated. F.neouragenieul will also he given to teachers to adopt the most advanced methods ol teaching and particularly to make their teaching as practical as possible. It is recognised that the adopiiim ol the most model'll methods of individual teaching depends largely on the provision ol adequate accommodation and reduction in the size of classes. In both these directions improvements are being clfcctcd as rapidly as the finances of the country permit. The Department has consulted a

mmilicr nt Inisiiicss nurii in ninOils parts of the Dominion with the oh

jed of modernizing the prescriptions m stuli subjects as arithmetic and writing and has also given the fullest consideration to the recommendations made by the Primary School Syllabus Revision Committee'and also by the Inspectors ol Schools who met in ( onlereiice on tm matte! in February hist. The greatest praise is due to the members of the ("oniiniltee and to the inspectorial sLaff for the earnestness with which they pursued their labours in this important task. The adoption of the new syllabus will not necessitate any radical alterations in the general organisation of the primary school system. Provision will he d',3 f„r the establishment of a Standard Vll or Form 111 class in certain primary schools for the benefit of pupils who after passing through Standard VI or Form II are not prepared to stav a sufficient length -I tune in* a secondary schools to warrant their embarking upon a purely secondary ' education. Such a class will also he of benefit to pupils who lor economic reasons have to seek employment soon after passing Standard \ 1. f„ this wav the gap between the primary schools and technical sclioo evening classes will he bridged and continuity in the educational process secured. Provision will also he mado as circumstances permit tor pupi s " Standards V and VT who are prepared to stav a sufficient longtli "I n secondary school or technical high school to transfer there alter passing Standard IV. Ido not favour the establishment of separate .lunmr llitfli Schools to accommodate l m l )l s n Standards V. VI and VII (Forms 1. 11 and HI) ns institutions of that type result in two breaks m the club - school life. By attaching the highoi primary classes to post-primary schools there will he only one break. Such a scheme will, however, necessitate the establishment ol a largei nuinni <_ post-primary schools which i> •' ' n .-' expensive undertaking and advance m this direction must he very gradual indeed. 1 do not propose to em iaik on any forced transference ot pnpds to the secondary or technical schools at . definite age; but it is intended as have indicated above, to provide tm more rapid progress through the pi i ,narv schools l.y the brighter pupils so that they may reach the secondary schools at an earlier age than at present.