A WIDER DOOR

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1929, Page 7

A WIDER DOOR

ELECTION PRIVILEGES EXTENDED.

The Minister of Education has acknowledged that the Act under which his Department operates is in sore need of remodelling, but the magnitude of the task has necessitated a postponement of tne remodelling till next year. This, however, has not prevented important amendments and additions to the Education Department’s regulations. These, gazetted last week, contihn features tuat arp of importance to parents, pupils and teachers alike, and will ue discussed in almost every household. Definitely now it is declared that pi'unary education ceases at the end of the Standard IV course, and that in name, the old Standards V. and VI. cease, to exist, being called Forms I. and 11., and being regarded as affording secondary instruction. The work in these two “forms,” is in no way altered; it is to continue at the same institutions on the lines of the new syllabus whch came into operatioif this year.

UNDER NEW NAMES. ! The primary course is divided Into' three divisions in each of which it is indicated that pupils should not remain for more than .two years. 3he preparatory division embraces what have been termed the primer or infant classes, which may be divided into two, three, or four classes, with pu emotions reeommelided half-yearly in the last case. The junior division consist of Standards I, and 11,, and the middle division of Standards 111. and IV. There are special instructions that the head teacher of every school pnist prevemt as far as posable the retardation of pupils in any of the classes, and that he should endeavour to discover the cause of the keeping back of any child.

An earnest effort is made to secure uniformity of marking in all head teachers’ examinations, for a definite scale is fixed to be used right throughout the child’s career from Standard I: to Form 11., and standards for marking . will be : laud down by the Director of Ed peat ion or the senior inspector of the Education District. OF IMPORTANCE TO CHILDREN.

Though primary 'instruction ceases with Standard IV., which a child should have passed either at or before 'the age of twelve, no special certificate is given for the covering of this period, but two types of leaving certificate are provided when pupil concludes his or her year 111 Form 11. There are. the old compqtencty and proficiency certificates, awarded under slightly stiffer cond:itioms than formerly, find with one very useful restriction. To secure a certificate of. competency a pupil must now obtain 50 per cent of the aggregate marks in Englsh subjects and arithmetic, and must satisfy an inspector l that he has reached a satisfactory standard of attainment in the other subjects prescribed by the syllabus. For the proficiency certificate the 60 per cent minimum of aggregate marks still remains, but the standard for such individual subjects as reading, . composition and larithmetio has been riysdd by five per cent. The thousands of pupils in the Dominion now preparing for the proficiency examination v/.1l appreciate what this means, The>se candidates, if they are:not 'awarded certificates on the recommendation of their head teacher are to be examined by an inspector, so that the Aveaker ones will have at least two chances.

Tn 'the past, children who have secured their certificates some wtfeks before the close of the school year often leave and start off in hectic pursuit of a job. Now it is provided that the certificates shall be issued not earlier than a week before the school closes for the summer vacation, and the issue of the certificate shall be subject to satisfactory attendances on the part of the winner of it, THE WIDER DOOR. The further educational privileges available to children who have passed through Form 11. are somewhat altered. As in past years the ceitificate of proficiency will carry admission to any type of what has been defined as a “post-primary” school, where the course of instruction to te taken up shall be determined by Ore' principal after consultation with the parents, and after consideration of the pupil’s “aptitudes” and capacities ns revealed by the progress card which recorded his previous educational standards. It 'is definitely indicated that the entrant to a postprimary school must not take up a number of disconnected subjects, but that the work must Ire arranged in accordance with the pupil’s surroundings and probable future life work The holder of a. competency certificate may secure further free education only in technical high schools, technical schools, junior high schools, and in such district high schools and secondary schools as are approved bv the Director of Education. 'The competency certificate thus carries greater privileges than it did formerly. an innovation of the provision fof the educational “duds” and those who have failed through misfortune to secure Wither certificate. A child over the age of fourteen who has been in regular attendance at a primary school may secure a free place at a technical school, but not at a secondary school, if he takes a course of instruction approved by the Director of Education.' Thus, an extension of the free education system is now available for every one, with the proviso that each must go through a course which' previous progress has indicated is suitable. For the first time iu New Zealand post-

primary education lias been made universal. FOR TEACHERS AND COMMITTEES.

Many other amendments concern staffs an;d administration of schools. A very charitable clause provides that if a teacher dies in harness there may be paid to his or her near relatives a sum equal to a month’s salary, Avhere service of from ten to twenty years has been rendered, and equal to six weeks’ salary if service has extended over twenty years. Very detailed instructions are given regarding inspection of schools, and reports thereon, which in future must not be published, though they shall be open to the view of members of school committees. It is indicated that an inspector should guard against estimating the efficiency of a school or a teacher solely in accordance with measurable results (such as examinations), irrespective of the manner in ‘which these results have been produced, and their effect upon the mental and spiritual development of the pupil. Briefly, the regulation attempts to sound the death-knell of pure cramming, which is discountenanced by every modern educationalist, but there, is insistence that sound (training in English subjects', should not be sacrificed to over-pursuit of other subjects. There will be much comment. upon the new regulation in cirdios educalonal during the next few weeks.