MR WILSON'S, LETTER.

Manawatu Herald, 22 October 1889, Page 2

MR WILSON'S, LETTER.

I , » — , The following letter has been addressed to the various Education Boards of the Colony, and the writer begs to draw 1 your attention to it : — > , J)kau . Sin, I received a promise from the Premier, ■last Session, that a circular would be Bent out to the various Education Boards and Inspectors to ask if they had any alteration to suggest, in the syllabus. This is an opportunity, I believe, of doing great good to our Educational system, There are many mistakes in our syllabus, especially the relative time devoted to the subjects. The department has the control of the syllabus, yet has little opportunity of observing the practical working of it in Hchools. Any alteration therefore which is made in the syllabus is more likely to come from the Public than from the Department. Here is an oppoit unity for the Public to express its views through the Education Boards which with their Inspectors have an intimate knowledge of the working of the syllabus and its defects. I write to ask your Board to carefully consider the matter and report as fully an possible, so that the Department may feel the necessity of some alteration. I may add that I suggested a conference to consider the answers smt -^n. The Premier, although not promising this h favourable to. the idea. I venture with some diffidence to mention a few of the glaring mistakes in th%

•Hyfiabns. \li) Mi Addition to Rending, Writing and 4risteietic, the importance of which all are "Agreed on, I should add Drawing 83 one of the premier subjects. It does not receive anything like the proportionate amount of time, which from its importance to the future welfate of the pupil, it ought to receive, fl is the- basis of all tefchjyiftl edfccafiott. No matte* whrat the \k\pil is destined for, Dra\ving v t4ught In the proper vay is of the fttna&t importance. It is of ■great service As a mental training ; it forms *n agreeable interlude to the other lessons, be taught by any of the present schoolmasters, if they have au opportunity Vas they ought to hnve) of being t&ught inn proper school. (2.) Singing upon the tonic 8«M A system should also have SOBS* pVominence. It siould be as easy tffi «, child to read music fts to read its lertsbn books. The ,: t'e'a'chiDg •of music is a matter of lAore wfflftulty. Although those who ijaVe full knowledge of •',he .subject say <ho cannot be taught in sing, still soYfte of the schoolmasters are "too old to fc&vn. Many fortunately already know »3ie system, and in aonie schools the o-bfl^n sing admirably. *(T>.) Science in the higher classes should have relation to the pursuits likely to be followed by the majority of the pupils, such as mineralogy for the mining districts, agriculture and dairying for the farming districts. I may say with regard to this that the Government have^ promised me that, manuals on these two important subjects shall bg prepaid for the use of schools. (4.) The Subjects of Geography,. Grammar, History..- etc., vecpfvr fftr too imifth tito-i at j>re^eht S«'»t»vp to their .importamv. Tlte public mind is stroii" in this \n.) iNiiU should form a part of every •Hay's Work.. The discipline in schools, in a KSnsalry where discipline is lax. is l>ene--ii*?al. Girls should be taught the use of vlubs if there are ho' other gymnastic exeicisps possible. ' Every encouriigpme'nt .should be given by all connect?^ with education to the good old English out-door Raines, wliich our imblic school boys seem sad'.y deficient in. (6.) The syllabus should allow of much more discretionary power being g^iven to the Inspectors. Often it is in the interest s of Education that some alteration should he made, in small country schools for instance with one teacher. The Inspector has no power but to enforce the syllabus in its entirety. Many think the syllabus overcrowded, J»ut I think ii it were divided in the way I have suggested it would not be found so. The importance of the subject to our future national advancement must be my excuse for addressing you at such length. y«WM "Faithfully, James G. Wilsox.