SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16219, 23 May 1918, Page 8

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS

The annual conpjronce of the New Zealand secondary school tcachers was commenced yesterday morning in Canterbury Coliege Hail. Mr w. J. Morrell (Otago Boys' High School) occupied the chair. lhere wero also present: —Messrs T. D. Pearco (3ou».n----1 ;ui d Boys' High Scnooi) seorctaiy, •j. W. libbs and att. (Auckland Grammar School), J. M. Simmers (Lhanievirko High School), W. A. Armour (Napier Boys' High School). J E. Veruon (Palmerston North High School), J. E. Strachan (Rangiora High School), C. E. Bevan-Brown, W. "Walton, and "W. M. Stewart (CAristchureh Boys' High School). Mouteath (.Christ's tr Ji Pik F Vv Wa^, ters (Ashburtou High School), W. iliomas (Tinnru High School, F. Milner (Waitaki Boys' Hi'j;h School), J. Hunter (Gore Hrdi School), F. Footo (Gisborne HiSh School), Inncs (Marlborough Ki»'h School), Misses Blanche Butler (Auckland Girls' Grammar School), Ironside (Palmers ton North High School) Bathan, Newman, and Coad (Wellington Girls' College), Lorimer (Nolsoli Girls' College), Gibson Mcintosh, and Bing (Christchurch Gil-Is' High Scliool) Ferguson (Waitnki Girls High School), Allen (Otago Girls' High School), and Jobson (Southland Girls' High School). Mr J. C. Adams, chairman . of the Canterbury College Board of Governors briellv addressed tho meeting, livery school, lie said, had increased in numbers since the war, showing that people were recognising the advantage of a good sound educational grounding before tho young people grew up to take their place as citizens of tho Dominion. The Efficiency Board was seeking the advice of educationists as to possible methods of making the education system more comprehensive and therefore more valuable. Speaking ol" vocational education, Mr Adams said that in his opinion such should not be commenced until a sound liberal education had been acquired. This was especially so in the case of a boy. In conclusion, lio sincerely hoped that tho conference mi<rht do much towards improving secondary education and bringing before the public th 0 absolute necessity for such education. The President then addressed the meeting. Ho commenced by stating that tho war had revealed bevond qucs" tion tho efficiency of the teaching given by the secondary schools, and quoted from an article bearing on the subject which hud appeared in "Tho Ilouud Table." In practical patriotism, said tho speaker, the New Zealand schools had yielded to no part of tho Empire. Figures had proved that wherever tho shirker caino from it was not from tho public secondary schools. "Whiie the soundness of tho secondary education system had been justified, tho times wero changing, and it was necessary that education should be changcd in accordance. , Dealing with the average duration of secondary school life, which was 2J years, h 0 said that there was a feeling the world over that the term was far too short. In Now Zealand tho reason for tho shortness of the term was an economic one. For social and economic reasons it was futilo to hope that tho duration of secondary school life could bo substantially lengthened. Boys could not bo expected to remain at school after their seventeenth birthday. Referring to possiblo remedies for tho position Mr Morrell suggested that the present exemptions granted by tho Education Act to children leaving primary schools before the ago of 14 should b 0 removed by Act of Parliament, and that the ago at which they should be allowed to learo should l>e raised to 15, and powers granted for a still further raising of tho age. Hie present position was that a clever boy could leave school as soon as ho obtained tho. necessary certificates, irrespective of his age, and in tho ' speaker's Opinion publio feeling should bo so developed that the clever boy would not be withdrawn:, hut kopt at 6chool to develop his faculties even further. More than anyone tho clover boy wanted protection against exploitation by his parents and by society. -Steps should be taken to bring the matter before the Minister for Education. Continuing, Mr Morrell urged that j the conference shouid endeavour to as- ! sist the_ New Zealand Educational Institute in. its efforts to have tho size of classes in tho public schools lowered to thirty pupils or less. Tho present conditions were unspeakable. With regard to curriculum, he declared himself to be no bigoted Latinist; but many of tho complaints against Latin were tho direct result of entrusting instruction •of tho subject to teachers who were without enthusiasm, and sometimes, unwithout knowledge also. He complained of the tendency to undue centralisation of education, in tho Dominion. In conclusion, Mr Morrell spoke of tho hopeful signs of a newlyawakened interest, if not a belief, in education, which might lead to the greatest forward movement since the renaissance of learning. In moving a hearty veto of thanks to Mr Morrell, Mr O. E. Bevan-Brown referred to the slender representation afforded the secondary schools on the Council of Education. "• Tho popular cry of "Efficiency" was one which all educationists should watch. Tho spiritual sido of education must not bo neglected, as to jottison that would be to jettison the most precious commodity in tho educational cargo. I>r. W. J. Anderson, Director of Education. conveyed the Department's greetings to $io conference. The big problem of the present time was secondary education. Though much remained to bo done in the primary schools, the curriculum there was fairly satisfactorily settled. Tho primary schools gave the same education to boys and girls, but in the secondary schools there, was the question of divergent purposes, and it was necessary that at the outset they must decide where differentiation should begin. Inspector Cresswell supported Dr. Anderson's remarks, and expressed the earnest wish 'of all in Wellington to a£-

sist with the present and subsequent educational conferences. It was apTeed that the conference hours b© 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and 2.15 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. A vote of thanks was accorded Miss Gibson, of the Ch" r _istchiirr , h Girls' Hitrh. School, for providing afternoon tea for the conference throughout its sittings. The cation of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr T. D. Pea-roe ; secretary and treasurer, Miss N. Jobson; business comrnittee, Messrs T. T>. Pearce. "W. J. Morrell, and C. E. Bevan-Brown. A letter wa.<; received from the Minister of "Education promising to attend tJ»e conference if he hnpnened to be in at th.e time. The Education Department wrote 6tntine that it had m*>de a prant of £50 towards th« travelling: expenses of members attending tho conference. The conference went in+o e>>mmitte-e to discuss the nroposn] of the University Senate to make a comnul sory suhiect in the matriculation course. It was resolved to that any candidate for matriculation who does not produce a satisfactory certificate that he has passed throuch a three years' course of work, practical work at a secondare- school or its e«"'valent in one of tlie sciencest>tgi scribed for matriculation, be required to | pass in six subjects. The conterenco s{rreed to the principle that there should be one perioral paner for and home science, and that eandidnfry? in science should i be required te take this treneral paper, | and also bo allowed to taVg a ny one or j two and + ,hat if two" options | be taken'they should count as separate su^'cats. The conference adjourned until 101 a.m. to-day. ; I