EDUCATION TENDENCIES

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1928, Page 3

EDUCATION TENDENCIES

POINTS FROM ANNUAL REPORT.

WELLINGTON, Aug. 28

Possible improvements in New Zealand’s educational system are discussed in the annual report of the department, hut it is suggested that in seeking to, improve the system it unis, not he thought that the Government considers the existing organisation ineffective. Visiting teachers from Eng land and Canada have paid tribute to the high standard of primary education in New Zealand. ■“While it would be unfair to those who built up the education system to ignore what it lias done and is doing it would be foolish to he blind to its imperfections and ignore opportunities for improvement,” states the report. “It is acknowledged that all schools tend to draw away from the life o' the people, and to follow the lines of study- which tend to grow more and more divergent from the actualities of life. A periodical stock-taking is, therefore necessary. Undoubtedly primary school education might be made more practical, and at the same time give greater prominence to tbe fostering of the reading habit and tbe study of good books. The rapid growth of technical high schools shows a tendency to realise that education may be closely related to life’s activities, and that such type of education may lie as truly cultural ns the traditional second ar v education.’’

Expenditure on education last year was £3,847,545. being a decrease of £139,871, due to a large drop in expenditure oil buildings, this vote having been extended in the previous year through the inclusion of £(55,9(56 for the Otago .Medical School and £49,345 for the Massey Agricultural College. Ail increase of 3138 in the number of children enrolled in primary schools brought tho total to 219,945, and the average attendance was 89.2 of the roll number, tbe Otago education district showing tbe highest percentage with 91.5. SMALLER CLASSES, MORE TEACHERS.

The movement for the reduction of clasess has made progress, the appointment of 71 additional assistants enabling schools to be reorganised with the result that only 07 per cent of classes have more than 40 children and only three per cent morfc than 00.

Uncertificatcd teachers comprised 28 per cent' of staffs in 1920 but. tbe proportion is now only 8 per cent, represenicing 500. many of whom, it is pointed out. have received training in colleges and only require to pass in one or two subjects and -serve a term as probationary assistants to complete their certificate requirements.

It is shown that of pupils leaving primary schools 50 per cent ol boy-s and 49 per cent of girls proceed to post primary schools. 20 per cent ol the hoys entered farming pursuits and 7 per cent went into trades. Taking a wider survey of pupils' life activities by including children from all branches of education below university the report shows that 40 per cent go into clerical, professional, shop or warehouse occupations. 19 per cent to fanning, 10 per cent to trades. A comparison of these figures between primary and secondary schools shows, says the report, that the secondary schools are not creating a bias away from industrial occupations, but are assisting boys and girls to discover their inclination toward such activities.