THE CRAMMING SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2542, 25 October 1888, Page 2

THE CRAMMING SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

Our Te Awamutu correspondent writes : —The annual examination of the children attending the public school here was held on Thursday, Mr Goodwin being the inspector examining. Notwithstanding the fact that the school was closfid for several weeks during the epidemic of diptheria, and that even after it was reopened many children were kept at home as a precautionary measure, the percentage of passes was exceedingly good, a fraction over 73 per cent, passing. This is a proof of the ability of the head teacher, Colonel Smith, and his assistant teachers, Misses Crookes and L. Lewis, and also of the steady application of the pupils. The examinations are more strict and severe than they formerly were, aud as a consequence the strain on the minds of the pupils much greater. This has the unfortunate effect of causing a good deal of mental worry anil excitement which children cannot divest themselves of, even during sleep. One boy tossed and moved restlessly all night before this examination, and his parents heard him muttering and speculating as to his chance of success or failure. No sooner is thereaction over than the task of preparing for the next year begins. The wisdom of sending a child up for examination under the following standard to that already passed the year before is very questionable, and if a teacher, in the interests of the chird, thinks lit to hold it over on account of the strain being too great for its mental capacity, jealousy unfortunately too often prompts the parents or guardians to find fault. "Tom Jones passed, and my Sam is as clever as Tom Jones any day, etc., etc.," and so the teacher is often hampered and found fault with. We do not for a moment wish it to be understood that such has been the case here, as we know of no such cases. We speak generally of the abuses which occur under the present system, which gauges a. teacher's efficiency by the mimbei of passes. It is in a sense a fair standard of ability, for it indicates industry and good discipline,but if the time in which bright pupils passed the various standards were extended there would be less likelihood of the children forgetting what they havealready learned. The vicious f.ractica of cramming: which is the outcome of our educational system would be considerably modified, a practice which is denounced in most countries blessed (?) with ultra liberal educational laws. Iu America the evils arising from the system in vogue there—which is much the same as owe are being felt, and roundly denounced in the Press. Iβ the Detroit Free Press a series of articles under the heading, "The new First Render," appears. In these sketches the abuses of the day are shown up in a manner humourous and sarcastic, by dialogue. In one the question is asked What is this. That is the new cramming machine for American schools, it is to prepare pum'ls for examination, and is rapidly coming into use in all our schools. Does it answer the purpose ? Yes, thoroughly. But are there no ill e'Tects ? Yes, many children die annually, but what is the loss of numbers of younglives when compared with the value of a Kood education obtained by our perfect system? The reputation of the teachers and the blessings of a splendid education are at stake, and must be considered as paramount. These are as nearly as possible the words—and they show how the evils of cramming exhibit themselves. Another Editor says the system of education in that country is filling the gaols, the great majority of criminals being well educated. Children are educated above domestic service and manual labour, they want some "genteel employment," to be "sales ladies" ! for clerks is their ambition, and as there is not room in these occupations for all they must remain idle, and either starve or be a burden on their parents when they should be earning their own living. Forgery is a favourite crime with the educated youths who live by their wits rather than by their hands. This writer went on to say that temperance reformers would probably attribute the increase of crime among this class to intemperance, but fifty per cent, of the prisoners of this class in Sing Sing—the New York State gaol— were total abstainers, many were moderate drinkers, and only a small proportion habitual drunkards. This is the case, as stated by the editor of one of the New York papers. It discloses a very lamentable state of affairs, and one which many people in New Zealand have prophesied will be the outcome of ours. They are often laughed at, and told that true democracy recognises equal rights, and that the state should open the way from "Log Cabin to White House." Quito right and proper. There should be no vested rights in public positions, but the openings are limited, and we cannot all be Presidents or statesmen ; some must be content to fill humbler positions, but under our present system too many boys imagiue themselves embryo chancellors or statesmen, and 'thus the after results when they come to enter the battle of life are disappointment and bitterness. Here is au instance of the growiog tendency of our young people, the outcome of over educating them too highly. A young girl well on in her teens was asked if she understood cooking) jstwing. mending, and housework in gcfnWHi , She said she never intended doing anything of that aoit, she would be a teacher or shop girl. "But," said her friend, "someone must doit," The reply was, "we can import the poor Scotch and Irish to do such work for us." The writer knows of one case where a girl received the full benefit of orir free education. She left school at 16 or 17, and was never happy unless away from home where she found the society of her illiterate parents uncongenial. She was in every sense of the word a good, and a nice girl, but she found no pleasure at home. Consumption laid its fell grasp upon her, and her mental trouble was not conducive to recovery. As may be expected the disease soou ran its course and carried her off. Of course we do not imply that her education had anything whatever to do with her contracting the disease, but the difference between her attainments and those of her parents mado her low spirited and unhappy. The moral of it all is that there should be do free education beyond the fifth standard, and let the pupils have plenty of time between the standards instead of rushing them through, as at present.