CONFERENCES ON EDUCATION

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 8

CONFERENCES ON EDUCATION

Minister Plans Several

(New Zealand Press/Association) TIMARU, March 19.

The hope that he would be able to hold more than one conference this year and next year to consider several aspects of education was expressed by the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) during an address to the twenty-first annual conference of the Dominion Federation of School Committees’ Associations today.

Mr Skoglund said that in Tauranga recently he had said he felt the stage had been reached when the whole set-up of education should be studied *'tp see if we are on the right road.” In April he was holding a twoday conference on technical study, for New Zealand must be able to hold her own in this nuclear age. ‘‘Two months after that I hope to hold a conference on religious education in schools,” he said. At present some part of the Nelson system of religious education was being practised in most schools but in others religious teaching was being given at different times of the day in order to assist those organising the periods. This practice was illegal. ‘‘l want to put the whole position before a meeting so that all the problems can be discussed,” he said. ‘‘l hope the conference will agree to take the discussions back home with them for consideration at their committee meetings then return in about six months to another conference to make a decision for the guidance of the department.” Mr Skoglund said he also hoped to hold a general conference in 1959 to hear reports on all aspects of education. There were many phases which should be studied to see if original plans were being adhered to and what modifications were necessary.