AN EDUCATION MUDDLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 595, 22 February 1929, Page 8

AN EDUCATION MUDDLE

'f’ROUBLED SAMOA is not the only country afflicted just now * with departmental muddlement. There is a charming sample of it in the confusion that has arisen over the introduction of the new syllabus into the Dominion’s primary schools. Filled with ardour that has made it careless of important details, the Education Department has introduced its new syllabus in a singularly inauspicious way. A good many of the books are unobtainable, and those that have been issued are said to be of poor quality. That is not a reflection on their contents, but merely on their material appearance. The Syllabus Revision Committee, labouring with commendable energy over its task, has probably caused the delay, and as care was obviously necessary, it would seem that the Education Department would have shown wisdom had it delayed the introduction of the new syllabus for a year. It might be felt, of course, that the old syllabus had dated badly, and the introduction of the new was imperative; but judging from the data available, it seems that the children would have suffered less harm during a year on the old syllabus than they are suffering in the present annoying situation. Some teachers have been forced to carry on with the old books for the excellent reason that the new ones needed are not yet issued.

The whole question of school books is a plaguing one, and many parents, with certain justification, feel that the time has come when these should be furnished free of cost. It would certainly involve considerable expenditure on the part of the Education Department, but there id much to be said in favour of such a system. The books could be produced at the Government Printing Works at a minimum cost, and there is no doubt that parents would be relieved of a troublesome burden. Failing that, there is a partial remedy—one which would have the effect of reducing the present, high price of books. The Government could sti'l produce the books and distribute them to the children at cost price No reasonable objection could be made to such a system and it would diminish the opportunities, now too liberallv given, for making profit out of the education of the young. There is no reason at all whv there should be profit made on school books.

and the Education Department would gain universal applause if it made arrangements for production of books which would cost the Government nothing. That is just one wav out and it is submitted as an alternative to the scheme for the provision of free books.

The suggestions, which are perfectly reasonable, need no searching investigation, and if adopted would obviate the recurrence of the deplorable conditions existing at the present time. An unfortunate mistake has been made, and in the meantime the children and the teachers are the ones who have to suffer.