THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN VICTORIA. Report Upon the Methods of Teaching.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 333, 12 January 1889, Page 6

THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN VICTORIA. Report Upon the Methods of Teaching.

The Rev. R.Wilde, M.A., from England, who ia visiting Victoria as an export to report upon the methods of teaching in Victoria, has furnished a comprehensive report to the Minister of Public Instruction. The Rev. Mr Wilde address.es him&elf to the following points: —1, How the elementary schouls of Victona compared generally with the &arne claes of schools in Groat Britain ; 2, in what respect could they be improved ; 3, how the " result system," aB worked, appeared to answei ; 4, in case thi.« system was abolished, what other could bo substituted. Mi- Wilde states that after examining the schools, in reading, writing, dictation, arithmetic, gtummar, and geography, _.h e came fc 0 t,b e conclusion that the results were highly gratifying, and quite up to the standard of the best schools in Englaud. in needlework and discipline tho English schools woo flomc-what &upcrior. While approving in tbc main of the school buildings, he points out that a radical defect i& the position of tho windows and the arlangoment of the desks, so that tho light I should be at the children* backs and facing the teacher*. The light should be admitted from the light, left, or overhead. Ho condemns the result system, and argues in favour of the viva, vocc system ot inspection ass likely to bring out the intelligence of the children. Promotion should be by meiit, and not beniority. The department ought to have the light to dispense witli pupil teachers at the end of their apprenticeship, [n order to overcome Uio objoction bo transfer, lie .suggests that the pay should be for length of service ; then the aged master could be removed to the country without any serious loss of salaiy. He says that payment by results is quite a different thing in England to that in Victoria, where it means making the teacher's salary his whole income, dependent upon the re&ults of the examination. This system induces the teachers to think more ot passes in each subject than of really educating a child, and therefore loads to cramming. Payment by results al?o cripples the inspector, an examination boing reduced to a system of marks. The inspector is forced to ascertain if a child knows so much, and not how much, which i& fatal to intelligent teaching. The conclusion is that the result system i8 far the best for Victoria. Should his recommenda tions be adopted, the new powers will be vested in the permanent officers of the department.