+
67
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1975
CONCEPT OF MODERN EDUCATORS TOWARDS THE CHILD
******
EDUCATION SHOULD EMBRACE THE WHOLE OF MAN'S DEVELOPMENT - PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL - SO THAT HE MAY REALISE ALL HIS INNATE POWERS AND POSSIBILITIES THAT MAY LE OF VALUE TO HIMSELF AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID THIS EVENING.
+TIE MAN WHO IS EDUCATED IS NOT JUST A LEARNED MAN, BUT A MAN OF BALANCED PERSONALITY, + M. TOPLEY TOLD THE GATHERING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF THE DIOCESAN BOYS' SCHOOL.
THIS IDEA HAD COMPLETELY ALTERED THE CONCEPT OF MODERN EDUCATORS TOWARDS THE CHILD, WHATEVER HIS AGE.
+THEY REALISE THAT THE HABITS OF THOUGHT, FEELING AND ACTION, WHICH HE IS FORMING FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF LIFE AND THROUGHOUT CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH, ARE AS MUCH A PART OF HIS EDUCATION AS THE SUBJECTS HE LEARNS AT SCHOOL.
+THE HOME AND THE SCHOOL ARE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE KIND OF MAN OR WOMAN THE CHILD WILL BE. THEY SHARE EQUALLY IN HIS EDUCATION WHICH WILL DECIDE WHETHER HE FINDS SOME MEASURE OF SELF-REALISATION AND DEVELOPS THE POWER TO ADJUST HIMSELF TO THE DEMANDS OF LIFE.
+FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW IT IS EDUCATION THAT DETERMINES ALSO WHETHER THE CHILD BECOMES AN ADULT WITH A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE LIVES, OR, LACKING MORAL STANDARDS, MAKES THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-AGGRANDISEMENT AND THE ACQUISITION OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS NO MATTER WHAT THE COST TO OTHERS,+ THE DIRECTOR SAID,
KR. TOPLEY EMPHASISED THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED IN THE HOME AND IN THE SCHOOL TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES, TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND TO USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE LIFE MORE INTERESTING AND WORTHWHILE.
HE ALSO REFERRED TO THE SPEECH BY THE PRINCIPAL OF DIOCESAN DOYS' SCHOOL, MR. JAMES LOUCOCK, WHO COMMENTED ON A NUMBER OF FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION.
MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT ONE SUCH ISSUE CONCERNED THE CLAIMS
OF THE INDIVIDUAL VERSUS THOSE OF SOCIETY.
+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE SCHOOL MUST ACCEPT THAT ITS FIRST DUTY IS TO ITS PUPILS AS INDIVIDUALS. EACH PUPIL MUST BE REGARDED AS A UNIQUE PERSONALITY WITH HIS OWN NEEDS AND ABILITIES.
+AS AN INDIVIDUAL HE MUST DE RESPECTED HE MUST FE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-REALISATION AND SELF-EXPRESSION. IF THIS IS NOT DONE AT ALL STAGES OF HIS DEVELOPMENT, HE WILL SUFFER FROM A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION OF WHICH HE WILL BE MORE OR LESS CONSCIOUS ALL HIS LIFE.+
THE DIRECTOR