446 



The Review of Reviews. 



November 1, 1906. 



lished in the schools throughout this State since 

 1900. we need have no doubt about the subject 

 which •■ maketh a full man.'' 



As for writing, the exercise books and composi- 

 tion shown prove that it is used to a considerable 

 extent in the right way — as a means of expressing 

 or recording thought, and with a view to the future 

 — shown by the practical nature of the work done. 



In regard to arithmetic, anyone who studied the 

 exercise books would conclude that its use in every- 

 day life is kept in view. 



The problems noticed are for the most part such 

 as the child will be called upon to solve in actual 

 life. These exercise books also indicated that 

 more attention is being paid to English as it is 

 spoken, and to the rules of syntax, than to the dry- 

 as-dust details of parsing and analysis. 



INFANT EDUCATION. 



But in no department of our school work has a 

 more striking change been wrought in the wav of 

 making education a living thing and a preparation 

 for the future, than in the teaching of infants. 

 Manual de.xterity is certainly a great advantage to 

 the future citizen, no matter what occupation he 

 follows. The exhibits in paper work, mat weaving, 

 string work, and other subjects such as brush draw- 

 ing and colouring, bore remarkable testimonv that 

 there has been a great gain in manual power during 

 the last few years. But the evidences of mind-de- 

 velopment were just as apparent. On the walls of 

 the exhibition one saw many lessons in reading, 

 number, writing and observation work, which the 

 little pupils had assisted to build up. The activitv 

 of the child is now turned to account, and he has 

 become an interested co-operator. From the point 

 of view of thought-development and its expression, 

 probably the most striking fact in favour of the new 

 methods is the wonderful composition written by 

 children under seven years of age. The work shows 

 a masterv of words which is really amazing in those 

 so young. Not many years ago children of twelve 

 could not do such good work. 



WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE FUTUBE. 



While admitting that much has been done to at- 

 tain the high ideals aimed at by the Education De- 

 partment, it must also be frankly conceded that 

 there are some things to be avoided. The work in 

 some cases needs to be more definite yet. In con- 

 nection with some of the nature studv collections, 

 where the sole object seemed to be to gather as 

 many specimens as possible, one could not help 

 asking the question — what definite purpose is aimed 

 at ? The industries which engage the attention of 

 our people are manufactures in the towns, agricul- 

 ture, viticulture, dairying, mining, and the like in 

 the country. 



It seems to me that wherever it is possible the 

 nature study and science work should be taught 

 with these in view, as has been done in some cases 

 I have referred to. 



Again, it will be imperatively necessary- to provide 

 a supplv of highly-trained teachers for the work in 

 the future. Why is this ? As more subjects are now 

 taught than formerly, there is grave risk that such 

 essential subjects as reading, writing and arithmetic 

 will suffer, since less time can now be devoted to 



