SECONDARY SCHOOLS, CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9009, 23 January 1895, Page 3

SECONDARY SCHOOLS , CONFERENCE.

MORNING SESSION. The Secondary Schools' Conference, which holds its meetings every third year, met at the Canterbury College Hall at 10.30 a.m- yesterday, when there were present— Messrs C E. Bevan-Brown, Chriatcharch Boys' High School (President), in the chair; C. F. Bourne and W. l>. Andrews, Christ's College ; Geo. Hogben* Timaru High School; J. P. Firth and W. F. Ward, Weliingtou College; B. K. S. Lawrence, Christchurch Boys , High School; Rev. H. Northcote, Wanganui Collegiate School; Mrs T. S. Foster, Cbriatchorch Girla' High School; Miss Gibson, Nelson Girls' College ; Miss Browning, Napier Girls' High School; Miss Fraser, Wanganui Girls' High School. The Hou.W. P. Reeves; Minister for Education; and the R«n\ W. J. Habens, Inspector-General, also were present. An apology was received for the absence of sAy W. Walton, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, and Mr Lawrence was appointed to act temporarily in his stead. The President gave aft address welcoming the delegates to the fourth meeting of the Conference, and regretting there were not ..representatives from" Dunedin and Auckland and the Kelson Boys' College. Since they met in Wellington in 1H92, the most important matter affecting secondary schools requiring notice had been the Endowed Schools Bill. The Bill was introduced last session, but did not get beyond a second reading. The Minister for Education, whom with Mr Habene they were very glad to welcome there, was courteous enough to send him a copy of the first draft of the Bill, inviting suggestions. The Bill was mainly a scheme for increasing the number of fiee scholars in secondary schools. Hβ bad consulted as many members of the Conference as he could, and they had suggested—(l) *'* That there should be an adequate test examination for the free scholars; (2) that this should be to some extent at least under the control of the governing bodies instead of the District Education Board, and (3) that the capitation grant usually given on pupils attending primary schools should be given on these free pupils." The Bill as actually presented to Parliament incorporated the tirst two suggestions, but not the third. As far as he could see the Bill was a fair one, provided the last suggestion as to capitation were inserted. He did not think any of their schools had an excess of income, and an increase of free scholars must mean a diminution of income or an increase of expenditure, which amounted to the same thing. To whatever extent their schools suffered in income to that extent, it seemed to him, the efficiency of secondary education would be impaired. He believed, even .without the Bill,, that their schools were thoroughly democratic, that they contained a wholesome mixture of all classes, and that they did afford ample opportunity, by their exhibitions coupled' with the . district scholarships, to all. the really promising primary pupils, to obtain education, and to stay at school if, they showed real bent in that direction until they reached' the University. In fact he thought they would bear . him out when he said that the majority of University honours had been won by those who were formerly Board scholars and in most cases by children of poor people. At their former Conferences the greater part of their time had been taken up with passing recornmeudalioria to the Senate as to the University scholarship matriculation examination, or the Govern* meat as to '(scholarships aad pupil-teacher-ships. He would be glad if they could make a new departure at the Conference and, leaving those technical matters, occupy themselves with subjects touching more vitally the methods aud scope ot their work. Mr Hogben bad promised to read a paper on " The natural method of teaching languages," a subject that had occupied a great veal of attention of late, even among the general public. Then there were the subjects' that were greatly occupying the minds of the English educationists, and the head masters' conference. YVitn one of those, which was a problem of great difficulty at Home, ' the correl-Uion of the various grades of schools, it was unnecessary for them in this young, country to deal. iJiitV another ' matter ~ ' interesting "to those at Home should be also ... interesting, to them, and. that was -the question of pedagogy f that was how; far training in the theory and art of teaching could be introduced for the masters and mistresses of secondary schools ; - and connected with that how far any system of registration' of teachers, a question already of practical politics at home, was possible or desirable out here. They had from time' to time* discuseed at the Conference, but never with any result, a schemo for'the general examination Bchoola. Some schools,* for instance the Christchurch High Schools, had always been able to hold an annual examination, conducted by outsiders, but they had never seen their way yet to auy general scheme. . There were three greet difficulties in the way —All the schools wished to be examined at the same time for prizes at the end of the ' year; there was a fear of a cast-iron system, unable to adapt itself to the special features and requirements of particular schools, and lastly.there was this difficulty, most formidable of all, there did not appear to be men who had at once the ability and experience necessary to undertake such a.work as the examination qf all their schools in all subjects. Another marked feature at the present time was the constant succession of new- methods and new subjects, and he thought their attitude should* be one of wise conservatism, and. that they should avoid rash experimentalism, but keep an open mind, patiently studying, all new methods. There was another matter occupying* great attention at Home; aud that was religious education, which' he believed, to be, the moat vital of all subjects. - It was a difficult matter for them to confer about, because it depended* in the case of . their schools so largely on individual opportunities and circumstances. But ho believed ininost of their schools direct Christian instruction could be given. He was glad to know that' in many if not most it was given, and his experience was that the great majority of parents desired it. He was quite cure that without the religious element,* implicit or avowec , , they would not reach what was best and richest in human nature, or rise to the true meaning and dignity of their profession. (Applause.) ... The Hon. W- P. Reeves thanked.the conference for allowing him to be present. Hβ assumed they, were agreed upon several important principles.'. regarding secondary Echrois. It was the duty of the State to see that education did not stop short at the primary system, and that the secondary schools should not only be preserved, but enlarged and extended. They .were also agreed that the secondary schools had done aud were doing excellent work, and that that was the view of a very large mass of the people of the colony, though, no doubt, there were people- who committed themselves to opinions of a different kind.- He did not consider that the ■ secondary schools of New Zealand were merely narrow, olass institutions, Lut he agreed with the President that there was a good mixture- of all classes, though between the - President and himself it was only, a question of degree. It was a matter - for consideration how far it' was possible to extend the good work - which . the secondary school? were doing and what practical steps could be taken to attain the object in view. - It was for the pnrpose of doing something of the kind that the Endowed Schools' Bill was drafted. It was not intended to destroy the secondary schools but to improve tbent. He belonged to those who believed, that the-system of education should be perfectly free from the primary schools to the University. That ideal bad' not yet been realised, and be supposed would not be for somexime; but they might cautiously try to improve their existing systems. If by avoiding rash experiments Conservatism was meant, then he the speaker was,a Conservative. They had mast excellent systems of education, but it they were to "shrink from and feir all experiments because some might be bad, then bo was not with them. For some time to come at any' rate: secondary .schools could not be free. Even if the finances of the country allowed free education foe all, all would not be able to avail themselves of it* There would ie the difficulty as to how many thousands of men and women were to be maintained while they receiving free education! If a complete national University 'education was-an impossible ideal at the present tia» that need not prevent them

from extending the secondary system as far as possible. There was a popular desire, and a very legitimate one, that the secondary schools should be widened, and that there should be a larger proportion than something under 2 per cent, of their children who obtained secondary education. Such a small percentage was not a credit to New Zealand, and was a positive danger to their democracy. The Government, in getting opiuions from experts upon the Endowed Schools BUI, showed they were desirous of improving it. He therefore hoped it' would be diseased freely, and their opinions given to the Education Department, when they would be considered fully and fairly. He agreed that one examination per year iv the secondary schools should be arranged for, which should be not only demonstrative of the work done, but comparative of the work in the different, schools. He was of opinion that the constitution of the governing, bodies of the secondary schools should be reformed and, popularised, but without revolution, and a method of election of members adopted that would not be.cumbrous. (Applause.) The Rev. W. J. Habkns also gave an address touching upon the questious of a uniform system of examination in the secondary schools, the method of teaching languages, and the need for improvement in English composition in the secondary schools. ... . . The Pkksidknt thanked the Hon. Mr Beeves and Mr Habeas for their addresses, and they then withdrew. The Treasurer's report showed a credit balance of £3 12s 3d and was adopted. The hours of sitting were fixed for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mrs Foster, Misses Gibson and Fraser, and Messrs Firth, Hogben and Bourne were appointed a Committee to consider the Endowed Schools-Bill and report to the Conference. The Conference then adjourned till 8 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The Conference resumed at 8 p.m., and went into Committee 6a the Endowed Schools Bill. Oα - resuming, the President said the Committee had no recommendation to make as to the merits or demerits of the Bill, but they did not altogether disapprove of it. The following recommendations were agieed to after discussion :—Clause 3 to read—" Subject to Ihe provisions of this Act every endowed school shall afford free education to one scholar for every £75 of the annual income derived by the eohool from endowments made under the authority of any Acb of the Provincial or General Assembly, including, contribntions made by the School Commissioners acting under the Education Reserves. Act 1877, provided such income be the net available income after deducting interest on loans, and charges of collection, &o>" ■ . •■-■■■•■• '• ■■•-..:.•■•"• : -v . Clause 3 B—" That where a scholarship provided by a governing body cut of endowments includea provision for board- in addition to free education,- eaoh such scholarship shall count for three free places if not less than £30 be grauted for board, and for two free places if not less than £15 be granted; provided that the number of pupils receiving free education shall in no case be lees than half the number required by Clause 3." The following' recommendation of the Committee was lost on a division:— Clause 3 C — " That on account of every free pupil the governing body of each endowed school shall receive from the Government of the colony the same capitation grant as may be paid on account of each pupil in attendance in primary schools." ' Several notices of motion were received, and tne Conference adjourned at 10.5 p.m. till 10 a.m. to-day. .-,-...