TEACHERS AND EPIDEMIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 123, 28 April 1925, Page 11

TEACHERS AND EPIDEMIC

CATCHING UP THE LOST HOURS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Tho executive of tho New Zealand Educational Institute would be grateful if you would publish tho enclosed statement 03 a matter of general interest to parents.—l am, etc,, H. A. PARKINSON, Secretary N.Z.E.I. Wellington, April 24, 1925.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE’S VIEWS The executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute, in response to an invitation from the Director of Education, has submitted the following points in connection with tho question, of overtaking tho time lost through tho epidemic quarantine:— With regard to tho lengthening of the school day by an order extending to nil classes, members of the executive are unanimous that this would be inadvisable in the ease of younger children,_ though there is some difference of opinion regarding standards five and six. On the whole, it may be taken that members consider it would bo better to leave it to the teachers to meet iheir special circumstances in their own way. There will bo many pupils who will make up the lost time easily—there are others who will need special assistance from tho teacher and there are some who would receive more harm than good from any attempt to force them. It would be better if the teacher were free to give these additional personal attention, as some are already doing, than that all pupils should he obliged to attend, thereby hindering the special instruction of those most in need. Information lias reached the executive that some teachers have already determined on a longer day for standards five and six; but in regard to the juniors the best opinion the executive can form is that there should be no general lengthening of the school hours. There are physical as well as psychological reasons for this, besides the advisability of leaving the teacher’s hands free to deal with his own particular circumstances. If. however, after some experience it begins to be evident, that some lengthening of the day is advisable, the executive is of opinion that it would be better to make the change after the August term than before it Many schools are inefficiently warmed and lighted, and an extension of the school day during the winter is on that, account alone to be avoided if possible. This applies particularly to the South Island and the higher parts of the North Island.

With regard to the alternative suggestion, tho holding of school on Saturday, there are two objections—First, the inconveninece to parents, and, since attendance would be voluntary, absence of many pupils; and, secondly, the probable use of Saturday mornings, in some cases at least, for school games. In one district, embracing two or three counties, the executive has been informed that it has been decided that the Friday school games shall be discontinued, end either taken on Saturday morning or suspended for a time. It, seems to bo the opinion among teachers that most of the lost time can. be made up by special efforts to meet individual cases. A suggestion lins been made that the occasion affords opportunity for a considerable. reduction of the arithmetic syllabus, say, from a five-hour subject to a three-hour one; nnd that if that were done it would enable most other losses to be made good. On the whole, it seems to the executive that it io tho teachers that must bo relied upon to do what can be done to meet tho emergency, and that their efforts in that direction xv-ill not be enhanced, but rather, in many cases, hindered by the issue of detailed instructions. PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS.

A question v/hich is concerning many parents is tho end-of-the-year proficiency examinations of candidates for junior free places at the secondary schools. Tho institute does not anticipate any difficulty on that score. The tendency of inspectors in recent years has been to consider the recommendations of the headmasters in estimating tho fitness of the pupils for higher education, and it is expected that, in this connection every consideration will be given to the merits of the candidates, having regard to the special circumstances of the present school year.