The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1900. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 89, 11 April 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1900. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

In a period of alternate excitement and depression, such as that which is now enveloping the English-speaking people | the world over, when tbe high tension caused by our deep personal and patriotic interest in the war is shadowed by the black cloud of pestilence afar off on the horizon, as yet no bigger than a man's hand, bat none the less having j the appearance of a grim demon of destruction hovering within striking distance and ever-ready to swoop down and relentlessly claim its victims, matters nearer home and more intimately connected with the well-being of the) community are liable to be overlooked, or, if brought under observation, to be paesed lightly over as if coming under the category of those things which look I after themselves. It is, therefore, just as well that some special event outside those which are at present monopolising attention should arrive as a reminder I that between the entrance to and exit I from this world there are many im- ) portant duties to be fulfilled, not the least of which is the training of oar children, if possible, to do better than their progenitors, and, at least, to worthily follow in their footsteps. It! has taken centuries to understand the ethics of education and to remove the false principles upon which the fabric for developing brain cells was built or, more properly speaking, pieced together. At length, after many weary years of controversy and experiment, the proper methods of educating children, and skilfully cultivating their intellectual faculties, ara understood, and their application becoming general. There is still much to be uudone and more to be accomplished ere tbe educational system can be said to be placed on a permanent and satisfactory plane. There is good gr >und of hope, i however, that the Education Department of the colony, which is now controlled by an experienced and enlightened executive, will do| good work in the required direction. It is a matter for congratulation j that the Minister of Education and the Inspe/stor-General propose being present at the annual distribution of prizes at the Stratford District School, and it will be interesting to note what these j responsible gentlemen will have to say on the important matters relating to the work in this and perhaps other districts. The marvellous growth consequent on tho larga area of now settlements, as well as tho prosperity of the settlors, have caused two pressing needs to ariso acd demand attention. 0<; the one hand, tho necessity for new ■schools and the enlargtnibnt of tbe older ones has outstripped the grants in aid. As the Government are responsible, and rightly so, for compelling paronts to have their children educated, ■ihey are bound (and w« believe they ■ r'ully recognise their responsibility) to nake full and effective provision for >oth teachers and scholars wherever primary schools am found necessary. This may, and owing to the peculiarity of our | back distiic'p, uftf-ii does, mean a multiplication of small schools. At pret-ent there is no help for this, and therefore action has to be taken ou circumstances [

as they are and not aB they exist elsewhere. The present building grant iB a altogether miserably inadequate, as are p also the other grants which the Tara- e: naki Board receives from the Govern- b ment. It is understood that this iB d recognised by the Department, and we hope to hear that the authorities will a not suffer this unsatisfactory state of affairs to continue, and that ob } Thursday some indication will be given k that the due needs of the district in this matter will be provided for, and in c no niggardly spirit. The second and 5 equally important matter is that of • secondary education. When this becomes a Durning question in a district there should be cause for congratulation. The need is not found to arise in a struggling locality, but rather is it a sign whereby the world at large may know that prosperity and progress are hand-in-hand, where secondary education is required, and in such places it should not be withheld, but fostered, that boti. the State and the units may benefi lAt Stratford secondary education has been obtainable for about two and ahalf years' under very advan- ; tageous circumstances thanks to i the action of the Education J3oaid. There is a distinct advantage in having that close connection between the primary and the high (or secondary) school which is ensured by the same headmaster being in charge of both. It is under such circumstances that the educational ladder is most naturally " and properly mounted. Whether or not it would have answered in New Plymouth we do not propose to consider, although there is not the slightest doubt that the experiment would have been well worth trying, and with small fear of the result. Possibly the time may not be far dis- . tant when in the early portion of children's lives their embryo faculties - will be pleasantly aroused by the kindergarten system, with its beneficial effects in cultivating habits of order, neatness, and method. Then the developing process will be continued at the primary school on an improved system. Passing from thence to the high school or to a technical school (another need of the age), as the faculties of the children or the circumstances of the parents may determine, they will be fisted either for the immediate battle of life or for further training at a University. Through such avenues, in all of which the physical as well as the mental powers of our children should be carefully and thoroughly expanded, the rising generations should become a credit to themselves, to their parents, and to the _ colony which has provided the proper ~ means for bringing these powers to perfection. This is the true end and aim of education.