SMALLER CLASSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 605, 6 March 1929, Page 6

SMALLER CLASSES

BETTER THAN JUNIOR HeS SYSTEM EDUCATIONISTS’ VIEWS Press Association MASTERTON, Tuesday, The Masterton branch of the &ew Zealand Educational Institute discussed the junior high school system an J unanimously adopted the following resolution, which is to be transmitted to all other branches of the institute;— “That as, in the opinion of this branch, the junior high school system : is fraught with uncertainties inasmuch as the system has not been thoroughly tested, and educationists differ as to its supposed benefits, we are of the opinion that articulation between primary and secondary education can better be secured by more generous staffing in primary schools, this tending to accelerate the progress of the pupil.” In a circular in which it is forwardin'S its resolution to other branches, tlA© Masterton branch states that it wis hes to emphasise: (1) That no full and authoritative report has yet appear ed regarding the success of the juniar high school system; (2) that the m ost urgent need in the education systerid to-day is for a reduction in the size of classes, beginning with the infant department; (3) that the proposed decapitation of schools will not tend to a reliction in the size of classes: (4) that gvven classes of say, 40 pupils, primary schools could, by accelerating the progress of the brighter pupils, hand them over to the post-primary school at th»e age of 12 years with a complete primary training; (5) tha; the new syllabus should be given a full and fair trial with a view to ascertaining whether better articulation cannot be secured between primary and secondary than obtains at present. “This branch ia firmly of the opinion that the best interests of the child can be secured by retaining him in a smaller and more* efficiently taught class in a primary .school, and will be glad of the support of other branches in the matter.”