Matthew Arnold on Education.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 176, 30 October 1886, Page 5 (Supplement)

Matthew Arnold on Education.

The report from Matthew Arnold on th§ subject of elementary education upon the continent is of great value, because of fcha suggestion which it contains for a revision of the system which has grown up in Eng-. lanp That our mode of treating the young % educationally, is faulty, has for a long tiniQbeen admitted, nor can there be any won^ der at this, since as a nation we have only* devotod close attention to thoc'ubjeot wifchin recent years ; but the deficiencies that have become apparent are sucl> as may be easily remedied without? any violent disruption of the existing regulations. The truth is that wq» have been trying to force too much upon the child iu early years, to produce; results without laying a sufficient ground-, work, and the pecuniary benefit to tbs* school and the teacher has been obtained at the cost of the real instruction of the> child • » Payment by resu^ Mr Arnold showSE is an erroneous principle oq which to baafe the national grant in aid of education. T.h^ children do uot^un Jerstand what they learn,,, and teachers urge that they have no time, in which t o make explanations. This ia nQfs education ao all, and it is well that public at-* fcention should be concentrated oa t the pointy because the remedy may be easily fomjef^ and teacher and scholar be thus brought; into more pleasant relations. The revised code has certainly to answer for tbisj method of cramming instead of teaching* children. Another point of infinite import* ance in English education is to train th<5» teaching in all the schools into such harmony that one echool may eerve as a stepping-, etone to another more advaced, so that tbosa wfco are gifted naturally may pass fcon* lower to high&r school?, until they read*. Oxford or Cambridge. The measures neces,-*-eary to effect these desirable changes arq* ?o apparent and so slight that there can fe^ little doubt but that they will be quickly? I brought into operation.