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DBATING WITS: THE ADOLEBCENT.
"If education is to be of real ratae to
the community in assisting to bring about
a new social order, it' muet deal with the
adolescent. This statement is contained
in the annual report of the Edlcation De
partment, which is signed by the
Minister . for Education (Mr. Cole
hatch) and the . Director ,of Edu
,atio?n (r. Cecil Andrews) and which was
presented to Parliament a few days ago.
"Ihe neglect of the adolescen undoes the
work of the elementary school," the report
proceeds "The vital importance of con
tinuing educational infpences over all dur
ing the yeam of adolescence ' has been
sk?esed over and over again in these re
ports. It is brought now into greater pro
minenee by. the contrast between England
and Australia.. After careful preparation
for the last two years education for ah?
boys and girs between 14 and 16 becomes
aimpolsory' in England during next year.
After a few years' interval a similar mea
urm will.apply to. those-between 16. and
,.; The first group in London beginsnext
Janeary in 22 new schools. each of which
will provide for 1,800 young people. They
will attend for four hours i the daytime
on two days in each week. A new group
of the same number will be added every
three months. All will have systematic
physacal trainieg; all the boys irill have
manual training, and all the girls domeestic
training. The rest of the ?urriculum,wilt
nary considerably, but will always include
some studies of idehistic -value
"'Here we have our voluntar' system of
dsses at. night .for those. whol havedoneo
a full day's work. The teachers and stu
dents : deserve great commendation for
what they have done and are doing: it is
doibtful whether any country can show a
better record for voluntary night classes:
But the work presses unfairly on both
teachers and students, and the boys and
girls that neeI guidance end control inost.
stay away. These are the years wrhen they
are most impressionable, plastic, and teach
able, the years that have the'reatest in
fluence on future character; .aand yet we
allow them to be neglected altoether, ex
cept. for the boys' cadet training. rIn
future ages they will scarce believe it- o.
us. Our neglect of adolescence will -be
looked back upon as the consmmniate in
stance of the comunnel crimes for which
we shall be despised.'
"While an- immense ameion rema i to
be done, and -only wait for-the: necessary
funds, to be provided, there .ae smew.,der.
-elopmients: -which harhI: taken: place that
are full of promise for the future
"One most valuable element in he b de
cation given in our. primar schools is the
trainingofthe older'boys in woodwork an
of the older girls in eookery,j laimdrywork;,
and housewifery. In our larger centres of
population all the children in the sixth
and higher classes are admitted to the
workshop and domestic schools. But there
are many children who ore somewhat back
ward in their literary and academic- stud-.
ies and who would proHt greatly by this
practical work. They may leave shool with.
out obtehiitig it becaune they -hsavi failed
to reach. the sixth dass. Numbers of such
children have been picked out of the
Perth schools and brought together into
specal classes-the boys at -the -Junior
Technical School, the girls at Jamesstreeit
Trese classes, are a great success. Most
of the children, though slow at bookwork'
in the ordinary school, are good with their
hands. They epend one whole.day each
wreek in practical work, and the rest of
their time on a" eurriculum which is some
what- nmxdied from that.. 1I tlbe -
ehoosi.'TRey -gain in confesee and 'selfl
respect wen thefmnd that there arelsub
jeeM in whic they ae not backward; and
this has an undoubtedly stimulating eect
npan the rmt of their work."
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