The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1883. EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1276, 12 January 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1883. EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

In the good old days, a boy's education consisted of the practical training lie received in the particular pursuit for/which lfl> was destined. In more recent days, it has been confined to book learning,; Without detracting from the results obtained by the Standards taught in tho primary schools of the civilised world, it is obvious that there is something to regret in the loss of the old methods which fitted youngsters, whether girls or boys, for the special work they had to do in the world. In "The Nineteenth Century Review" for October, a sensible article on " Hand-work for Children" suggests that the old utilitarian plan , which in its day turned out so many excellent craftsmen should be grafted on to the more modern system of book learning. It is felt that though the oducation now given in State Schools is of value, yet it i 3 only a means to an end, and without it is brought to bear on the practical duties of life, it is a poor substitute for the industrial training given by our forefathers, The article to which we refer recommends that children should be made to see for themselves and think for themselves on the basis of what they have themselves observed—or, in other words, the observing powers of children should be cultivated. 'lt is suggested that in our primary schools it is more important for girls to learn something bf the chemistry of common life, and be taught the rules of health and of thrift, rather than to be perfected in grammar and arithmetic; and that boys who are intended for agricultural t pursuits could learn with advantage the properties of soils and the laws which govern vegetable growth. It is, however, specially insisted upon that' hand-work in some form or other should be a part of the school programme. In America, where new , ideas usually receive a free and fair trial, an experiment in this direction on a large scale has been made within the last few months. The Philadelphia School Board, which has under its jurisdiction;los,ooo scholars, has introduced with marked Buccess the practice of hand-work in elementary I schools. Mr Leund, the principal authority on this question in that district, state,? that the. minor arts , such as wood-carving, moulding, and modeling' are the ones best adapted for training the eyes and hands bf' chil - dren. He claims that.manual dexterity is picked up by little ones with greater ease than reading and writing, and that children thus acquire a knowledge of a profitable decorative art,'which awakens their intelligence and pre : pares them for pursuits which they may subsequently follow. The handwork turned out by primary schools has been proved tP be .of. a saleable character, so that '-'.earping and learning has gone hand in hand together." Of course in a hew colony like New Zealand we must be content to leave to older and wealthier countries the task of trying new exponents of an educational, character, and the iation of hand-work .as a school study must be effected in the TJnited States or in Epglan.d befow iyp caji introduce , it into our o\yn establishniepts, StjU it is worth while watching the experiments tliat are being made, as they indicate (the lines we shall liaye ourselyes to follow in the next generation.