EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 8

EDUCATION SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, —I crave space to express great appreciation of “ Lux’s” articles- on Education, more especially of {the on® published 1 on February 21, in which he deals with the now syllabus and fis draw the attention of parents and committees to the new departure, vis?'., grouping of the preparatory and standard classes into three divisions and do* ing away with the hard and, fast line* of the past, more especially, in’, th.a preparatory classes, where it, has generally been necessary to make promotions j of pupils at other times than (the be-; ginning of the year. No part of the regulations should - discourage the more rapid promotion, 'of. children .of ..more ' than average ability.. The bright child should not be leg-ironed to, his slower' companion. In the past, owing to the idea of the dead level of monotonous uniformity being considered the ideal of a successful school, great wa!te -of time has resulted, allowing, as “ Lux ’’ says, not one naif of the children to even reach the sixth standard.’ If the new syllabus snould be taken up (heartily by parents', teachers, iaspectorsVand committees, it would be quite possible to reduce the average number of years * spent in a primary , school by one, thereby on an eight years’ course, effecting a saving of £120,000. annually, which could with' great advantage be applied to higher {education and an increased number of. teachers, . -;As a thirty, years’ school committee -man J am well aware that good attendance, health and mental ability,' are absew lately necessary ~to.- ensure the:full ad* vantage of "our great (educa tionai ties.—l am, etc.,’... . V { . ( *A. HASLETT- : Rakaia, February 23, 1914. > i,