MODERN AIDS TO TEACHING

Southland Times, Issue 24826, 19 August 1942, Page 5

MODERN AIDS TO TEACHING

WORLD BROUGHT TO CLASSROOM

The aim of modem education is to bring the child into closer touch with the life of the world about him and to give a practical meaning to the lessons taught in the classroom. This conception of the purpose of education was explained by Mr W. B. Harris, supervisor of teaching _ aids, Department of Education, in an interview with a representative of The Southland Times yesterday. Mr Harris is at present visiting Southland in the course of his official duties. He is one of a group of specialists appointed by the Education Department about a year ago for the purpose of giving guidance to teachers in the use of aids to teaching. Mr Harris said that these aids included the use of the motion picture and the radio, visits to public utilities, such.as fire brigade stations, and waterworks, and visits to factories. In this way a meaning was given to lessons taught in the classroom and a' way of escape was provided from the dangers of “verbalism” into which classroom teaching tended to fall. These aids to teaching also helped to stimulate the interest and imagination of the children and to make them understand something of the world beyond their own immediate spheres. They aroused the curiosity of children about the life of the world around them. In this way children were stirred to activity both in body and mind. VALUE OF MUSEUM While in Invercargill Mr Harris visited the Southland Museum. He said he -was interested to learn of the preparations that were being made to send cases of museum exhibits around the schools and of the organization that was being developed to help school children to make good use of the museum. Although the Southland Museum was small it contained a great deal of material that would be extremely helpful in the education of children. A museum could be very useful to children, but the extent to which they would profit from a visit to a museum depended on the expert guidance they received from their teachers in studying the exhibits. Mr Harris said he was also interested to learn of the progress that had been made in Southland schools in the use of aids to teaching. Mr Harris arrived in Invercargill on Sunday night, and on Monday and yesterday he visited city schools and gave demonstrations of aids to teaching in the classrooms. On Monday night he addressed a meeting of teachers and members of school committees. He left yesterday afternoon for Winton, and tonight he will address a meeting of teachers and members of school committees in Gore. On Friday he will conduct a refresher course for teachers at Balclutha.