TEACHING METHODS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1928, Page 4

TEACHING METHODS

.MORE FREEDOM ADVOCATED. WELLINGTON, June 30. The Executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute has placed on record the following expression of opinion regarding the new syllabus:—

Tho Committee considers that the increased freedom for teachers as regards the selection of matter and teaching methods is most important of flic issues arising out of new syllabus. Teaching is not a mechanical process. Tt is a vital one, dependent upon the interaction of personalities. The teacher’s personality as a controlling factor must he given very wide discretion to adjust itself to the problems arising out of the direction of the educational process. Any tendency of prescriptions towards hard and fast standardisation of aims and methods must cheek and defeat what is fundamentally an inspirational process. The seizing and developing of cries as they arise out of conjuncture in instruction is an essential safeguard of our educational system. It is not the scope to which its servants are restricted by regulations, hut the service is so selected and trained that it is qualified, while broadly adhering to the spirit and intention of national system to exercise the very great degree of personal initiative. The teaching service 23 years ago. when Mr Hogben’s syllabus was promitigated, was not in general qualified for selfdetermination. Tt did not desire it. To-dav a better selected, better trained and better educated profession is so qualified and puts suc-h self-determ-ination first among reforms. It urges, while welcoming indications m an advance copy of the new syllabus, that this concession of increased freedom to teachers is much in the mind of the Department. This committee of the Institute points to the existing system of insneetion as needing searching investigation and drastic alteration, if the freedom, vital to true scholastic progress is to bo secured. At present it feels that the general tendency is to make originality and enterprise run the gauntlet, and to bestow rewards upon results of the kind convention-

ally approved. It argues that the opposite should he the case if the spirit of experiment, so often asked for by the Director, is to become really manifest. It therefore respectfully requests tho Department to confer with the Institute re the inspection system as it has existed in the past. The Executive endorsed tho opinion expressed in tho prefatory note to the “English Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers.” The only uniformity of practice desired in teaching of elementary schools is that each teacher shall think for himself and work out for himself such methods of teaching, and may use his powers to the best advantage and be best suited to the l paiticular needs and conditions of the school.”