TECHNICAL SCHOOLS' CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 11

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS' CONFERENCE.

&BMITS PBOM CHEISTCHUKCH.

Tho animal Dominion .Technical Schools' Conference' is to be held in May in Wellington. The Board of Governors of tho local Technical College lost evening appointed as its delegates tho .chairman (Hr C. JI. Opie), the deputy-chairman (Mr H. IT. Husbridge), and the director (Dr. D. E. Hansen). A sub-committee which was recently set up, recom mended that the following remits should go to the conference from tho Board, ■ which "ere approved: Grading- Scheme'.— (1) The system adopted by the Education Department for giadiug of teachers is unsatisfactory, since insufficient consideration is given under the scheme to those who have been specially trained as teachers, and have had long experience in the profession. (Mote. —It should not bo necessary for a. teacher to have had any professional experience other than in tegching in order to qualify for the highest classes in either of tho two divisions. (2) Tho salaries provided are too low, especially in the industrial'division. The maxima of £10!) and £3OO for men and women respectively should be "raised by at least £SO. (5) The scalo of payments for overtime is insufficient. Not thnu in 6d per hour .should be paid to women and Gs to" men. (4) The. grading of individual teachers is unsatisfactory, a3 too small a, proportion of them axo placed in the highest class. (Xote.— Only three teachers in the Technical Education in New Zealand have been placed in Class G.). (5) The hours for ekes teaching;, namely, 28, are excessive, be'ing more than is required of teachers in any other branch of tho work. (6) A special payment of £SO should be made to the,senior mistress in Technical High Sohools similar to that provided in mixed secondary schools. Staffing.—(l) The allowance of one teacher for 23 pupils is insufficient in view of the fact that many classes arc practical ones, which should not have more than 20 pupils for one teach The average should not bo more than 2+ pupils, based on the roll number taken on the first of March of each year. (2) Provision for additional staffing ehould also be made as fox secondary schools, when instruction is (riven in a numher of buildings at some distance from one another. (3) In calculating the hours of teachers the time spent at cadet drill and at school games by teachers selected for this work should bo allowed. m , Allowances for Incidental Expenses.—The allowance of 26 per cent, of teachers' (salaries for incidental expenses is. too low. It is found that at least 40 per cent, is xequiied for this institution. Appointment of Teachers.—The Board ! should have full power to appoint teachers without reference, to the Education Department. , . Free Eailway Tickets for Students.—Every student who does not.live in the immediate neighbourhood of a secondary school and a Technical High School shouli he provided with a free Tailway ticket to travel to the school of his or her choice in order to obtain a course of post-primary education. Country students should not.be penalised "because they do not happen! to live near both, secondaryand Technical High Schools. Ftudont Teachers.—The payment provided for student teachers is on too low a scale, and compares very unfavourably with that »iven to probationers and pupil teachers in primary schools. At least 8s per hour ahould be provided for them in their first "year. 3s 6d in their second, and 4s in the third of Buildings.—Tho Education Department' should be asked to insure all Technical College buildings against fire. „.o<her Hemits are:-That ; the Government be urged to provide Technical Colleges with areas of land sufficiently large for agricultural instruction on a practical scale. That the Edncation Department be asked to • arrange . .-for the issue of certificates and: diplomas to pupils who have received approved courses of ediication in Technical High Schools and technical classes. ' That the Minister of Education be asked to apportion to technical education a fair-share of new endowments, and of any endowments wiich may, >be redistributed. That technical schools should be granted direct representation on the Council of Education. That the standing of Education Boards as, controlling authorities should be abolished in the case of technical institutions tacorporating Technical High Schools.- That bette? provision should be made for courses of technical instruction m.country districts That it should be made illegal to employ for wages foV full or part-time any chjldj.f school age. That the Government be asked to make provision for. special workshop and other classe* for the training of workers who are disabled in civil occupations, and thereby prevented, from earning their living in the usual way. .