HOROWHENUA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Shannon News, 11 June 1929, Page 2

HOROWHENUA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

SENIOR INSPECTOR VISITS LEVIN

On Saturday last the members of this branch met at the Levin District High- School to tender a welcome to Dr. Mcllraith, the newly appointed Senior Inspector for the Wellington Edu cation District.

After morning tea had been dispensed, Mr 11. G. MacDonald, the president of the Branch, expressed to Dr. Mcllraith, the appreciation of Hie teachers in being able to meet him and hoped that he would give them some indication of his ideas and ideals.

The doctor prefaced -his remarks with a few observations concerning his recent .sojourir in England. He instanced how far England had advanced in’her education of the young and now led the world in the breadth, heightli ana >length of her outlook. He, himself, would treat education moie from the point of the use it should give to one's leisure , rather than the old idea that what was learned at school should be only that -which fitted one to gain a living. Music; the arts, literature, and the like should be more prominent. Again. it should be the ajni pf the teacher to encourage. How often the teaeher's only duty seemed to be in the direction of showing mistakes. They often gave children credit for knowing little or nothing when they really knew a good deal.' He instanced an experience of his when inspecting at a small school, where many of the children werenatives. /He had questioned and questioned without obtaining a single reply. He began to wonder whether he or the children wfere at fault. At last l in desperation ..he took a large coin from Ms pocket and holding it on the palm of his hand asked what it was. A chorus of voices with one accord shouted “Heads!" He thought the day was coming for specialization in schools and if a teacher had a special gift for one subject he should be given the opportunity of exercising that talent. He trusted his sojourn among them, begun so happily, would continue in like vein to the end.

Mr R. J. Foss, in moving a vote of thanks to Dr. Mcllraith, said how great was the pleasure all folt in hearing what was the Senior Inspector’s aim and lie could assure him he would have the whole-hearted support of Horowhenua teachers. .