Education.

Manawatu Herald, 19 September 1896, Page 3

Education.

y* In Monday's Ohrintchurch Press there is a special article by the lion. C. 0. Bowen, author of the Educa tioo Act, reviewing the results achieved now that it has been nearly 80 years in operation. Mr Bowen makes several suggestions for the improvement of the system, which, l ooming from suoh an authority, are likely to be reftd with much interest. He urges that it la a mistake to try to introduce secondary subjects in primary schools, contending that it is better that the children should thorough instruction in a few elementary subjects instead of being orammed with ill-understood 'ulogies and smatterings of science, falsoly-so-called. He protests against the oraze for inventing reading books dealing chiefly with New Zealand subjects, and urges that parents should not grudge giving thpir children a variety of reading book,?. The paper generally is a plea for less •• cram " and more sympathetic teaching calculated to develop the reasoning powers of children. To this end Mr Bowen thinks it would

be better if the inspectors devoted more time to inspecting the Bchools and attached less importance to examinations. He also advocates inspectors being under the control of the Department instead of the Boards.