TEACHERS CONFER

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19884, 13 May 1936, Page 8

TEACHERS CONFER

l{E\ ISION 0F METHODS. NEED FOR REORGANIBATION. .\IR F. .\IILNER‘S CRITICISM. (By Tolerant—Press Association.) \VELLINGTON. Tuesday. Proposals for the revision of the curriculum in secondary schools were contained in a report. submit-ted to the annual conference of the New Zealand Secondary Schools‘ Association by Mr F. Milner, principal of the \Valtakl Boys’ High School. Mr .\lilner said there was now almost world-wide rev cognition of the importance of curri—culum revision. The new educational psychology subordinated instruction to self—developmental activity. and sepah ate subjects merged into topical interests of life experiences. which focussed and integrated the pupil‘s knowledge over all fields.

“Nothing revolutionary is counselled,” icontinrued Mr Milnel'. “but emphasis is laid on the world—wide ten—dency to reorganise post-primary education. to emancipate it from examinational 'bondage and to reshape its content more in terms of life‘s experiences There is a growing insistence that the secondary school curriculum is divorced from reality There is a distinct lag in the adjustment of secondary education to the needs of our life.

“The institution of the school certificate is an instalment of liberalism as regards examinations. The tyranny of university requirements rstill remains. External examination must be jettisoned altogether if our secondary education is to fulfil its spiritual objectives. Our education is lacking on'ttha aesthetic, physical and creative sides. It is failing, through neglect of geography and from a narrow interpretation 01‘ history and social science generally. to equip our pupils with a sympathetic understanding of the problems of_the inter—dependent world of to-da)‘.

“It over—values mathematics and French to the detriment of a proper interpretation of social science. It narrows absurdly its definition of science and fails altogether to link up with the realities of life to provide adequately indefeasible mental resources for leisure and preparation for well—informed world citizenship. Moreover, in its neglect of biology. in its ‘begg’arly equipment for hygiene. human physiology, sex knowledge and first aid, it negatives Herbert Spencer's first DOstulatu in eduralion values.”