TEACHING THE YOUNG.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 22 September 1906, Page 2

TEACHING THE YOUNG.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Tile teachers of the district h av<- to thank you for the space given in your paper to matters educational. Your leader in Thursday morning's i ; sue is more reasonable than some on the. same subject with which you favoured us lately. It is quite true, as you quote, that many lads leave school without being' able to add a few figures, owing, I believe, to- the want of a thorough grinding in the mechanical operations of the simple rules. In nearly every subject of our school svhabus there is a certain amount of drudgery lcqulred, just as in music success largely depends on early practice of scales and exercises. Il seems to me, however, that much of the arithmetic taught at school Is of little or 110 practical use to a boy "cooped over a ledger." All the arithmetic knowledge lie requires would be fairly well covered bythemcchanical operations already referred tu, Then of what tire is the oilier, and more advanced, work that he is engaged in during the remainder of his school life? Simply to develop his masoning [lowers and make him a more thoughtfu I and intelligent being. Even the tea problem quoted in your leader has this object in view. At the same time, much useless avilh mi tic is taught, v.a c t ; ng time which might be better employed. Good writing, on the oilier hand, is a gift granted to some, but withheld from others. The former will produce good work without teaching and without apparent, effort;; Jvvhii'i* ti.t" latter wili at best only secure fair results, at the cost of great labour on the part of the teacher and much effort 011 the part of the child. But, more anon. —I am, etc., PUKENGA.