THE EDUCATION BILL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 149, 30 July 1914, Page 10

THE EDUCATION BILL.

CONSIDERED BY EDUCATION BOARD. The following resolutions were passed at a speqial meeting of the board to consider the Education Bill:- — THE INSPECTORATE. -' That the present system has worked so admirably that the board dissents from the proposal to place the inspectors directly under the Department." CAPITATION GRANT TO EDUCATION BOARDS. '' That the board request the Minister to retain the present capitation of 12/in order to allow Education Boards to increase the incidental allowances to school committee." (Note. —The Bill also proposes to put additional liabilities upon the boards.) "That all costs incurred in connection with changes- in the sanitary systems of schools should be charged to the buildings account,not to the board's general fund." COUNCIL OF EDUCATION. "That this board is not in accord with the proposal to set up an advisory council of education, but favours the appointment of a general executive, consisting, say, of five members, whose duties would be continuous rather than merely to report to the Minister periodically." DISTRICT COUNCILS. '•' That the board disagrees with the proposal to appoint district councils." EDUCATION DISTRICTS. '' That in the opinion of the board the proposed education district of Canterbury would be too and that in particular the incorporation of the West Coast districts with Canterbury would be detrimental to the best interests and the special geographical position of the West Coast, while the cost of administration would probably be little less than at present; but that tlie board would favour the amalgamation of the Grey and Westland districts, in accordance with the opinion already expressed when dealing with the Education Com mission's report.'' DIVISION OF EDUCATION DISTRICTS INTO WARDS. <' That the board dissents from the proposal to give an urban area containing a population of 60,000 the same number of representatives as is given to an urban area with but 8000 inhabitants, and that the proposal in the Bill is also unfavourable to the rural area of Canterbury, which would have but six representatives for a population of 113,000 as against the same number of representatives-for the two urban areas with a population of approximately 77,000." GENERAL ELECTION OF MEMBERS. ' ; That attention be called to the fact that the provision contained in section 15 (2) regarding the date on which members shall take office conflicts with clause lo (2) of the regulations dealing with the election of members." BOUNDARIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS. "LThat in view ot the alterations that wili be necessary to the boundaries of school districts adjoining urban areas, the Minister be requested to make it clear in the Bill - whether such alterations will require to be made by resolution of the board." FORMATION OF NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS. "That the formation of any new school' district should take effect on the 21st day before the date fixed for the annual meeting of householders." SCHOOL COMMITTEES. "That the provision for nomination at the meeting be retained as regards the election of. members for school districts in the rural areas." "That the committee of each school district shall hold its first meeting in the place appointed for the election and immediately after the election upon the same evening. (Note. : —It was pointed out that owing to the uncertain duration of the householders' meeting, it is not practicable to name the actual time for the first meeting.) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW SCHOOLS. "That the matter of establishing new schools be left to the discretion of Education Boards.'' SUPPLY OF STATIONERY. "That it be pointed out that the board is not provided with funds for supplying stationery for school use." TEACHERS' APPOINTMENTS. '' That the present system of appointment of teachers is preferable to that proposed under the Bill, as in the latter case the applications for transfer, either by the director or by the teachers themselves, will be so numerous that the selection of candidates will practically be taken out of the hands of the boards and the school committees." SALARIES OF RELIEVING TEACHERS. "That the clause dealing with salaries of relieving teachers requires modification, as it is often impracticable to secure the services of a relieving teacher qualified to take the place of .the, permanent teacher on leave of abSCIU'C ' \ LEAVE OF ABSENCE. ''That provision should be made for the department to pay the salaries of teachers absent owing to illness." ADMISSION TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS. "That pupils who are holders of certificates of competency in the subjects of Standard G be admitted without payment of fees to the secondary department of a district high school or to a technical high school." PUPIL TEACHER SYSTEM. "That the board is of opinion that the pupil teacher system should be continued, as such system has tended to produce the best type of teachers.'' TRAINING COLLEGE. "That the words 'or training college' he inserted after the words " Technical School" in section .154 of the Bill." TRAINING COLLKGK STUDENTS. "That the Minister's attention be directed to the anomaly existing under the present regulations in the matter of remuneration of training college students, who receive considerably less than the salaries previously paid to them as pupil teachers." CAPITATION TO SCHOOLS OF GRADE O. "That the capitation for every pupil in yearly average attendance at schools of Grade 0 (not exceeding 8) be increased.' ' TKACIIERS' COURT OF APPEAL. "That provision be made in the Bill for Education Boards to be awarded costs in the event of their being successful i n appea 1 cases.'' Owing to the many matters dealt with in the Bill, soin<* of the clauses will probably to considered at the next

ordinary meeting of the board, when Mr J. Studholine, a member of the board, who was absent at the meeting yesterday, will bring up the matters of the enlargement of rural school districts and the establishment of special agricultural schools.