The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1904. THE NEW SYLLABUS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 94, 25 April 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1904. THE NEW SYLLABUS.

'J"he Dunedin Evening Star, which may bo regarded as an authority upon educational matters, refers approvingly to the new syllabus, which has bwen adopted hy l-he OaJUnet, and will be circulated without 'delay. In an article dealing with the chief points of dilTeredce between this newest sylhvbus anil the one gazetted on Jan. 1 last, and which was so adversely criticised by educationists from one end of the colony to the other, the Star says -.—Taking first the clauses dealing with the inspection and examination of schools, wo find that the following paragraph has been omitted : —"The date of the annual vis-it of the inspector to a school shall also lye notified not more than twenty-eight days and not less than seven days before such annual visit, by at least one advertisement in a newspaper circulating- in the'district, 'and in such other manner as may be convenient." I\n: tlm case of ci% audi sul>urban schools, the advertising of the date of examination is unnecessary, und as far as regards the great majority of the smaller schools is absolutely useless. The omission of this clause, therefore, was, we think, fully justified. Cl'ause 5 Has Hie following "addition"The headteacher shall draw up for each term or quarter schemes of work for all classes in his school." JJy such an arrangement as this the work in our primary schools will be done more methodically and more thoroughly, and there certainly should be less mechanical grind and emm in the teaching. Clause 8 "l'ji general pupuils shall be expected to pass through at least one class in each subject every year and th-c h<ead J teacher shall indicate the Subjects in which any pupil is -not a class higher t'hu'n that in which he was placed at the previous annual visit of the inspector"—has been deleted. Here again the forcing of children through the classes in an unprepared state is discouraged. An addition to clause 21 provides "The inspector may refuse to examine for a certificate of proficiency any candidate who- hai9 flailed ritacii the lequired standard of examination held during the previous threv months." This provision is pr/o'bably intended to meet the case of children failing in one school and attempting to pass the same examination within a week or two at an* other school.

W|> come now to the clauses deal, ing with tin; "course of instruction iu public schools." The most 110ticeuliJe changes liere are the following 1- A definite course of nature study lakes the place of lessons on objects. 1!. In schools having an uverwgu attendance under thirty, all the additional subjects may he omitted. 8 - Jn schools having mi average attendance of over thirty, hut not over 120, only two of (he additional subjects need he taken. ■l. In all schools with an attendance over thirty, both bovs and girls shall take cither „ ' definite course of nature study or a course of hard work. o. Roys who iiuke military will not be reqwirwl to take other physical instruction. <j. A wider choice of subjects is aUowed m the case of Stundard 7. In dealing with the subject of leading, teachers are recommended in the upper classes to give special attention to a few selected lessons—e.g., the lessons for leoitation und, say, six of the best prose lvssotis in the reading'book. The geography of Standard 11, may be treated us nature stuidy. 0. Instead of three courses in geography for Standards 111.—VI..there are to he only two, the first' of which may be considered part of nature study. 10. The requirements in drawing in tht; upper classes have been reduced. IJ. The science course for Standard IV. sug'gx-stcd iiu the Janurary sybabus is now shown to have hw'n intended for the upper classes of i town school or of a large countrv school. lii. The nt|,Hireim'iits of the svllalius are not to he interpreted ' too rigidly.

Kf. Til,, new s.vllulrtis is to come into ojn-iaiion on Jan. J, 3905 Tlii' delermination ' i,,i,o<inetan.l carry through the whole currifiiluiM of cnir primary schools a d.liriHo course of nature study will continues the Star, |„. warmly appro ved by all progress!\ e edncationisls Such work 1 properly taught "ill lead our children to think, t„ observe, and to draw correct conclusions in thr natural phenomena with which thvy are surroundi-d. I he privilege of omitting- at the disi etio.ii ot thi. teacher of theunder'V schools all of the additional si"..k.ets will ease the burden of I he si .teacher, and ccrluinlv remove one of the strongest objections urgvd against the syllabus issued at the beginning of this vtur H' e.san,L. may be siaid of the'latitude allowed i„ schools having a stall 01 only two teachers. The recommendation f„ teachers t„ ",| e . u "•"''O'fehly will, -a few of the lessons in the reading lyooks, instead ol attempting to overtake the whole of the work, will be received with approval by both teachers and i, pils. Curtailment of work, simplifiL Uon of the syllalbus, lo ~ teachers to exercise their individuality, difTerentf'atiolh 'lifctwecii t'ho reqt.irements of small schools Rnc j

those of large schools, suggestive rather than mandatory, and a scientific spirit arc the features which mark this new syllabus. The success or otherwise of its working 1 will depend largely upon the interpretation of it by the inspectors. Wo congratulate everyone concerned in the improvements thai have been brought about by thv. conference of educationists, and we trust that the introduction of this curriculum will mark the lieginmng of a new era in the history of primary education in this colony, OX THE FOURTH FACIE. Football. Literature. Cancer in Trout.