SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 57, 27 February 1902, Page 2

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

A PROGRESSIVE SCHEME. MEETING MODERN REQUIRKIiEWT*. At the meeting of the Tarantki Education Board on Wednesday, the Inspector, Mr W. E. Spencer, submitted a report on the curriculum at the Stratford District High School ill I which he referred to the increasing number of pupils dow taking advantage of the improved facilities for obtaining secondary, education, and tb* pressing importance of ai ranging Um curriculum to meet the diversity of aims of the pupils. Premising the average time spentby pupils at a District High Scheol is a little oMr two years, and that few prooesdsd to college, he points out that the preaeit course of study leads up to the c jlatioo, the passing ef which is efton looked upon as the ooping stone of a boys education, whereas on bacjt, many boys in after life feel tin* their time night have been am profitably employed. Ho oeniidera that a more progressive programme oottld hj»; draw* up, leading to what is knowß M the modern side of eduoatios, yeilding equally good mental training anddlfrcipline, while possessing practioal «4*. advantages outweighing the prttmt tbeoritiisal disadvantages. At prsnil wo l ngutgea are taught—La&maad French—tbe former he designates a dead, and the latter a medern langaajf, and be expresses an opinion is sufficient, the growing teodesoy of authorities, himself inelofcd, beingln favour of the modern language. H» thorefore snggtsts that the study of Latin should be confined to pupils studying for the University, ui mi the time saved by omitting this safe' ject from th«( course for ether papOs, should bedevoUd to other nqNts, • and to a more rational oomprehsDsiosi of French, s« m to enable pubik-to read Frehch )|terature f convsws .in ft* Ung'tt W, and obttiol that god; Jom*ledgoof ojir-langvagewhich islarpt*ferable to a smattering or two. WA regard to Euclid, he suggests ttatWbk 111. might be substituted for ink it, and the tr?atap«nt be aaOM demonstrative and illustrative so as to hm ft practical baaritig on practical geoasetij.. AUo th*t fliight reoeiva broader tre <tment, parts like quadratic* being omitted. He ther.fo.* rsrinps meoded that a pupil on entering b* given tl|| thfM oonrt«s;— («), Ordinary coursa—Trench, Imlish, Euclid, Algebra, Arithmetio (including Mensuration), aiMo4 geography (commercial and phf» sical), and history. (b). University <*ursaincliritety* above, with Litin and tHgona(c). ljsh, Euclid, and Algebra (modtMdjj' arithmetic, uoienoe, \tikkeeping, type-writing, shorthand, correspondence, and routine. • j, Although science <s -included <n iU ttw courage, be points oat the inadequacy of the present equipment at Stratford and emphasises the need ef making tk* school complete in this respect, hr tbe extra subjeots on the oommereM side he soggeets a small fee of mm guinea a year »<ght be ohaigod for all 5 classes so as to eover tb*-costd( material and assist towards romunfifct* ' iag the instruction of sueh subj«dU' «n are not undertaken by the pinsl , staff. He was of opinion that thtoa < subjects could be recognised bj tlw Department ss taohnioal snbjeeta, and that grants in aid ooald be obtains*. From correspondenoe with the head teacher at Stratford, ha gathered that the suggested changes would meet with the approval of parents. In explaining to the Board in datatf the efiecv of the prppoeM Changes, Mr Spencer pointed out that the 4hjeet was to fie tbe pupils bettor for th* battle of life. _ After some disoussion the Board #rcided tbat the proposals should he gftw effect to provided funds would pwtnit.