THE EDUCATIONAL QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2805, 5 July 1890, Page 2

THE EDUCATIONAL QUESTION.

TO THK KDITOK. Sin, —The enclosed letter has been considered and agreed to by the committee. In order to obtain an expression of public opinion, will you kindly publish the Bamo in full in Thk Waikato Times.—l am, etc., \V. Dey, lion. sec. School Committee, Hamilton East. (copy). Hamilton East School, oth June, LS'IO. The Hon. Sec. School Committeo, Hamilton East. Sir,—ln standards 3, 4, ii and (i there is a mass of geography and history to be learned, purely memory work, which is as useful to a child's mental development as a meal of chalk would be to his physical. The teaching of these subjects, which consist largely of geographical names, and historical facts, causes harassing homework, ii great wusto of time, and immense worry to children. As the geography is often examined on paper, there is also the time lost between the examination and tho making known the results to teachers. I would suggest (1) that the geography of standards 3, 5 and (i be made "class subjects " ; {2) the selection of names uf celebrated towns, rivers, mountains, »!tc., and the selection of facts and incidents of history For all standards be left to teachers. Tho benefits of such clnnges would be : (1) A reduction of the number of geographical names and historical facts, which form generally a part of children's home-work ; (■J) saving of school time ; (3) (he children would be examined in what they had actually prepared during a year. At present the geography and history, that a teacher may think celebrated, does not always coincide with an examiner's opinions. The result is that children are sometimes asked at examinations what they have not boen taught; (1) the results of standard examinations would be known sooner ; (ii) a saving in the cost of examinations ; ((!) the time sued at school could be given to drawing and agricultural cli'-mist.ry, subjecis which at pr-'sont d" not wet suHicient attention. Since the prtHcnt Act was passed there have boen several changes in the syllabus. When the change in the history c,( siand-

eld •> v,i,s made, there was great i.atisfactioii, still fjceatur would follow if all the and the lest of the ln-:tory were altered in the same way. I would a«li tlie committee to cm -ider tlicje There is n.) dmiLt in my mind that the changes will have to be made, and when made will be a f,"'Bat benefit to every school in New Zealand..—! am etc. Pehcv E. Stkvkxm. Head Teacher.