TRENDS IN EDUCATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 5

TRENDS IN EDUCATION.

CHANGES OF OUTLOOK. “At times of great upheaval, changes of outlook in education take place. One can expect the trends that have long been evident in education to take definite shape after the present war.” With these words Mr H. C. D. Somerset introduced his hearers to the subject of “Modern Trends in Education,” at a meeting of the Manawatu branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, on Friday. Drawing examples from the history of education, he showed that great development of the Danish folk high schools took place after’ the war with Germany in 1864. In our own times the new education, based on the psychology of the child, gained momentum after the Great War. The outstanding result of progress in education was the amazing efficiency in teaching. “We need have no qualms on that score; the danger lies in skilful teaching mis-directed,” the speaker proceeded. ‘ ‘As far as instruction, goes, we can 6ay that we have the subject matter of education well organised. Instruction, especially in the sciences, is within reasonable reach of all. The task that remains for the educator is the tremendous one of giving education a social content, 60 that the triumphs of human thought and ingenuity may be used in the service of man—and not for his destruction. To do this calls for a new learning which will bo as far-reaching as that propounded by Bacon W'hich initiated the new scientific era three centuries ago. “A large part of the time of the educator must be devoted to the teaching of the elementary skills of reading and number. But the informative content of the curriculum should -be aimed at making the pupils more and more conscious of the social nature of man. Already this has well begun. Schools are pulling down the walls between the teacher and the community. Medical services and a milk ration are a beginning. Social surveys now undertaken by schools are a hopeful sign, but if we are going to develop a race of people able to make full use. of the age of plenty that science has brought in, we must do much more than that.” In the opinion of the speaker this could be brought about only by a new development of adult education, for there could be no great addition to the burdens already borne by the schools. Mr Somerset then outlined some practical schemes for the introduction of social studies into the schools and also showed, how these studies are being carried on in the Community Centre at Feilding.