SCHOOL SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1930, Page 6

SCHOOL SYSTEM

FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY, DIRECTOR’S INVESTIGATIONS. WELLINGTON, November 24. j lie opjiiiojjjtlmt in certain cases the primary school .course can now lie concluded at .the age of eleven', or* after the pupil hits.passed Standard' I V ~" has been formed by the Director of Education, Mi- T. lb Strong, who has retu rend to Wellington after a tour of every education district in the South Island, aeoUipanied by Mr A. Bell, Assistant-Director. ... Air .Strong undertook the tour'withthe object d£ ; investigating the possibility of putting into effect certain recommendations ,-of the Recess Committee on Education, an d lie is to draw up a report on the findings lor presentation to the Minister. One of the questions receiving immediate attention relates to the introduction of the “eleven-plus” system, under which the primary school pupil will [Kiss into a secondary school at the age of eleven ,or alter passing Standard IV. This means that the present Forms 1. and 11., formerly knows as Standard V. and VI., would no.longer he part of the. primary school; they would he incorporated in the secondary school. The advantage claimed for this system is that there would not occur the break in instruction which is liable to hinder real progress under the present usage. Of recent years such subjects as French, Latin and Algebra have been taught by , some primary schools in classes which would in former times not have been undertaken until (the pupil had reached secondary school status. Objection to this method has been that Forms I. and IT. in the.’primary schools, are not sufficiently linked with the secondary school so' as to provide continuity of instruction and leaching interest, and it is claimed that the introduction of the “eleven-plus” .system would g lv ® this continuity in 'far greater measure.

Discussing the subject to-day, Mr Strong said he was of opinion that the

system could be introduced in some districts lie visited where it would involve little or no extra cost. CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS. Inquiry is also being made into the" question of consolidating schools in country districts, and Mr Strong said he had found that many district visited were keen to bring about a form of consolidation, as outlined in the committee’s report. Under the present system one teacher in a country school might lie controlling and teaching eight classes from primers to Standard VI. If, as under the consolidation ■scheme, surrounding schools were done away with and the available teaching power marshalled, the one school remaining to serve the district would be conducted along the lines of a city institution, with resultant benefit to tlie pupils, arising from the ability of the teachers to give more time to particular classes. -. •