STANDARD OF ENGLISH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5245, 29 February 1928, Page 2

STANDARD OF ENGLISH.

IS IT DETERIORATING?

SYDNEY HEADMASTERS’ VIEWS.

Is English taught with thoroughness in our schools ? The president of the Commonwealth Institute of Accountants does not think s<>, but headmasters of high and great public schools do. At the institute’s annual dinnes to Sydney the president (Mr Macßride) said that accountancy students who were up to. initermediate standard had no inclination for composition, and essays submitted by them were, on the .whole, extremely ppoi‘. He thought that with the extended syllabus insufficient attention was being given to the teaching of English subjects. Headmasters have other views.

Mr J. Williams, headmaster of Fort Street Boys’\High School: “It is not always the best boys who go in for accountancy. They certainly are 'not above the average. In fact' I think that most of them are below it. As far as we know, boys will only go : in for accountancy when they .have no hope of getting a profession. Until the year before last grammar had practically been abolished from the schools, but the swing of the pendulum is bringing it back. Once there was nPfhing but parsing and analysis. That can be overdone, but I think some is necessary.”

Mr Saxby, headmaster of Sydney Boys’ High School : “As far as my experience goes the standard of English, both oral and written, is as high now as ever it was.”

Mr W. Williams, headmaster of the North Sydney Boys’ High School : “Tlie results of both intermediate and leaving examinations show that the standard is entirely satisfactory.”

Mr Dettmanh, headmaster of Sydney Grammar School: “English is the hardest subject to teach, and because of this all schools, as far as I know, give particular attention to it. I think the standard! is as high as, if not higher than, it ever was.”