XN000022-1976-12-18 — Page 3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1976

SOCIAL STUDIES SEMINAR OPENS

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A GOOD TEXTBOOK ON SOCIAL STUDIES HAS BEEN PRODUCED AND WILL BE PLACED ON THE MARKET FOR SCHOOLS' USE IN SEPTEMBER 1977, THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, MR. A.J. REEVE, SAID TODAY.

IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE SOCIAL STUDIES SEMINAR AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING, HE SAID TEACHERS INVOLVED IN THE TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES FOR THE FIRST TIME HAVE HAD TO DO A GREAT DEAL OF WORK INDEPENDENT OF ANY TEXT- BOOK.

THOUGH SOME HELP HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE IN THE FORM OF SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND NEWSLETTERS, HE POINTED OUT THAT A GOOD TEXTBOOK WOULD STILL BE A VERY USEFUL AID.

+ IN NO WAY AM I WISHING TO EXPRESS BIAS IN FAVOUR OF A PARTICULAR TEXTBOOK BUT THE ONE THAT I HAVE SEEN IS, I THINK

IDEAL AND DISPLAYS GREAT IMAGINATION AND CAREFUL PLANNING AND THOUGHT BY THE TWO AUTHORS, HE STRESSED.

MR. REEVE CALLED ON TEACHERS TO MAKE A REALISTIC APPRAISAL OF THE VALUE OF THE NEW SUBJECT AND ITS EFFECTS UPON PUPILS.

HE SAID EDUCATION SHOULD AIM AT ENRICHING THE PUPILS' MINDS BY GIVING THEM AN INTEREST IN ACADEMIC STUDIES WHICH WOULD BE A LASTING INTEREST, AND THAT +ONE SHOULD AIM TO PRODUCE PUPILS WELL- INFORMED, ABLE TO THINK LOGICALLY AND TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES PRECISELY AND RELEVANTLY+,

+HOWEVER, NOT EVERY PUPIL IS CAPABLE OF FOLLOWING A STRICTLY ACADEMIC COURSE AND BESIDES THERE IS MUCH TO BE SAID FOR MAKING THE CONTENT OF A YOUNG PERSON'S STUDIES MORE RELEVANT TO HIS OR HER FUTURE LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT AND TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING,+ HE SAID.

THE INCLUSION OF SUCH SOCIAL STUDIES SUBJECTS AS HOUSING, TRANSPORT AND POPULATION GROWTH PROBLEMS, HE ADDED, COULD BE USED TO MAKE PUPILS THINK FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT MATTERS THAT AFFECT THE IR DAILY LIFE AND INTRODUCE WORTHWHILE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES.

AT THE SAME TIME, MR. REEVE STRESSED THAT ONE MUST NOT NEGLECT THE ACADEMIC ASPECT, AND FELT THAT A GOOD TEACHER WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO WHET A PUPIL'S APPETITE FOR, AND STIMULATE HIS INTEREST IN, SUCH SEPARATE SUBJECTS AS HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND E.P.A. BY TEACHING WELL THE RELEVANT TOPICS IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS.

+BUT I WOULD STRESS THE NEED ON THE PART OF TEACHERS TO SET HIGH STANDARDS OF LEARNING FOR THEIR PUPILS AND TO GIVE THEM ASSIGNMENTS WHICH WILL TEST THE IR PUPILS' ABILITY NOT ONLY TO MEMORISE BUT ALSO TO THINK AND EXERCISE THEIR POWERS OF JUDGEMENT AND REASONING, HE ADDED.