Review of Revieus, 1/11/OG. 



The State Schools Exhibition. 



443 



Pechnical Schools' exhibit, nor that shown by the 

 X.S.W. Education Department, but a word may be 

 said about the Cookery Centre. In no part of the 

 State school work is more practical work being 

 done than in the teaching of cookery. The girls are 

 taught not only how to cook, but what to buy, 

 which is almost as important, and a visit to the room 

 where operations were carried on was sufficient to 

 convince the most sceptical of the value of the work 

 done. Even a cynic will admit that the sum of 

 human happiness can be improved by good cookery. 



AIMS OF THE EDUCATION MOVEMENT. 



One aim of modern education is to produce a 

 perfect type of citizen. The school life, too, is to 

 be linked with the life around — the life of the 

 world. In the " Souvenir Book," published in con- 

 nection with the exhibition, we are told " that the 

 teacher is expected to take the children on the 

 tjround where they are, and lead them outward from 

 that." 



Is there any evidence that something is being 

 done to realise these aims ? When the programme 

 of instruction and exhibits shown have been con- 

 sidered, the conclusion arrived at is certainly favour- 

 able. In such a subject as history, than which 

 none should be more potent in helping to train the 

 future citizen, we find that the best teachers begin 



with the local history (some of which appeared on 

 the walls in the form of composition exercises), so 

 that the child is led outward from what he knows. 

 From the local history he is led to the history of his 

 own State, and thence to that of Australia and the 

 Empire. In like manner the shire or borough coun- 

 cil is dealt with, then the State and the Federal 

 Parliaments, and finally the Parliament of Great 

 Britain. 



Lessons are also given on the duties of a citizen, 

 and thus the children are placed in a position to 

 understand what membership of a state means. 

 ' In this subject, then, definite work is being done 

 towards the realisation of the aims mentioned. 



SCIENCE. 



Turning to science, we find that much latitude is 

 allowed as regards the branches of science dealt 

 with. In some agricultural districts, agriculture has 

 been wisely selected. Plainly, then, the life of the 

 child is linked with the life and industry around 

 him in such a case, and the results are likely to be 

 valuable. 



Some years ago a young teacher in Gippsland 

 taught the principles of agriculture to his scholars. 

 T(i-dav the farmers who, as boys, received their 

 education from him, are noted as being up to date 

 and ahead of their fellows. In the exhibition there 



