Good at Arithmetic

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 18

Good at Arithmetic

| FAVOURITE SUBJECT OF j FIJIAN SCHOOLBOYS. NATIVE CHILDREN NOT I LOSING INDIVIDUALITY

TEACHING ON RIGHT LINES Figures and problems have no terrors for Fijian schoolboys. Ask them their favourite subject and they will answer immediately, “Arithmetic.”

Mr. J. Grant, who retired some years ago from the staff of Wanganui College, was amazed at the interest taken by the Fijian boys in arithmetic. He has just visited the Islands and returned yesterday by the Tofua.

“Education is being taught on the right lines both in Fiji and Samoa,” said Mr. Grant, “and a feature of it is that boys are not allowed to ape Europeans in manners or dress—they all retain their individuality.”

One thing Mr. Grant noticed was an obvious preparation for the day when fruit boats will trade directly between the Islands and Lyttelton. Bananas and citrus *>:**ts are being planted for this purpose.

When he was attached to Wanganui College Mr. Grant was interested in the agricultural side of education, and during his visit to the Islands he took the opportunity of inspecting this department of the native schools. He met several New Zealanders who are teaching there. Speaking of the ability with which the native boys learn arithmetic, Mr. Grant said that the pupils of one class he called on were talking the ordinary curriculum of third standard children, but the arithmetic was that of the European fifth and sixth standard children. He examined the books of some of the pupils and found that they were doing excellent work. The pupils are also taught tropical agriculture which embraces the cultivation of pineapples, bananas and other fruits. This was at the Queen Victoria School, Narsinu, Fiji. Mr. Grant did not have time to visit the farm which was attached to the school. One class is being taught by a young man who had been educated at Wanganui.

In Samoa, said Mr. Grant, the problem of education had been taken up in a masterly way. At Avele most of of the pupils are boarders. All the food of the school is grown on the farm, and is cooked in the Samoan manner. The pupils did not sleeY> on stretchers, as in Suva. They lie on the floor in the Samoan manner and wear the Samoan clothing. A piece of very rough country had been extensively planted. Fifteen acres were in bannanas, now coming into bearing.