COLLEGE CURRICULA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5371, 7 January 1929, Page 2

COLLEGE CURRICULA.

“FANCY” SUBJECTS. SOME TRENCHANT CRITICISM. The system of teaching at secondary schools cqme in for some ?trenchant criticism at a meeting of the lAncold College Board, some members expressing thq opinion that too much attention is paid to “fancy” subjects, with .the result that instruction in general subjeqts is not nearly so thorough as, was formerly the case. The board is to consider asking the Minister of Education to appoint a commission to investigate the position. The subject arose through a discussion on the report of the education committee, which .stated that, with thq innovation of the two-year diploma course, mathematics would cease to bq taught at the college, and that students who entered the college with an insufficient knowledge of the subject would have to be c.o.achqd at their own expense.

“If boys were taught the principal subjects properly in a secondary school there would be no nqed for os to teach mathematics here," said the director.

He went on to say that the standard of our secondary schools had deteriorated, and that - the so-callqld best secondary syhools were not giving proper attention to subjects which were indispensable. Hon. D. Budd©: They are giving too jnuch weight to fancy subjects and the essential onqs are suffering. I have been protesting against it for years.

Mr W. A. Banks: We are not getting value for the money we spend. High schools teaching agriculture should give atudqnts the necessary instruction, so that they need come to a college like this! only to be finished off. We should ask Mr. Forbes to get into, the whole question: of sqcondary education, especially aspertaining tp'agriculture. We should have a cpmihission appointed. Mr J. Deans: How do .they get through matriculation 1 Members were of the opinion that examinations were not a rqliable index of the knowledge of a pupil. Further discussion was, deferred until the next board meeting.