SCHOOL REFORMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 254, 20 July 1908, Page 8

SCHOOL REFORMS.

DESKS, SAURIES, AND MEDICAL INSPECTION. DEPUTATION TO THE HON. G. FOWLDS. • Certain school reforms, -including J medical examination of scholars,- improvements in' staffing, salaries and superannuation, and the introduction of the single desk, were, urged upon the Minister for Education (Hon. . G. Fowlds) oil Saturday morning by a. deputation representing the Canterbury Schodl Conimittees' 'Association; Sovoral. Canterbury members of Parliament were present. , Dr. C. T. Russell, of Christchurch, advocated the above' measures 'at 'considerable length. ' •■ ■. ■-• , • Mr. C. Hi A. T. Opie (Christchurch) quoted the experience .of tie, Wanganui Education Board in favour, of single;desks as conducivd to healthj discipline,' and progress in study. The example of Canada was' also adduced,and a' diagram was : submitted" that no extra floor 6paoe .would.be required. Mr. W. R. Smith OYbolston) advocated dispensing with the voter's" signature on the ballot paper at school' committee elections, and that candidates should not be present during the voting. ;; - • The sympathy, of organised..Labour with' the .proposod .reforms was' expressed ; by. Mr.Howard (Trades and Labour Council)-and Mr. 'Whiting (Bootmakers' .Union). , \ Mr. H. Langford pleaded for.more liberal remuneration of teachers; ' more; adequate staffing of schools, and - a., higher scale of superannuation. . '.. '.V ; ' ;; '. _-. ■. Mr. C., A. C.. Hardy, M.i P.,' 'speaking as a member, of'the North Education 'Board, sa,id he - believed; in ; dual desks; such as the Board was now- installing'/.'r .He believed the .teachers in' the district werecontented. The lowest'salary'.was £65 for. an uncertificated 'teacher, but ■;the. 'Board would like to;'increase it., -. • Mr. D; "Buddo, M.P., ■ Chairman of the North Canterbury Education;,'; Board,;, also defended that body.,,- ■./'{ .^.v THE MINISTER'S • REPLY. , , The Minister,, in reply,' that 1 some* thing, would' be done this'sessioil- in regard to staffing, .teachers' salaries,.-artd sUper'an'r nuation. ■ At present,'.if any teacher ."had so low a salary as £25, ho must, be'.'teaching only four children,- for the . capitation was £4 per head.-, , That was hardly, a.school at all,.and - should not be reckoned in statistical averages. • The toaichers were" not >paid- on; the' average attendance,'thoiighv the schools were graded oni it; and'the.-new-legislation 'would still; further' remove'. : the. Dossibility' of the teacher's income, being 'affected by' the. attendance., ..At'..the-'same ,time; , the schools must .still, bo-graded -on the average . attendance, not the roll'; number, so that the.' teachers would havo ■ an. .inducement try to keep up ; ; the.' attendance;'.,... The-.! leakage of ' male teachers' from "-tho' profession, whatever might be said'-oil' the -point, 'Was■ very much tless in New'Ztialahd than in Erig-y land, and was only-.one-thinl.;of4what went, on'in America:. Many.;of those who left did; so because they were scarcely -fitted.for profession. ~ (Mr. Hardy:.- it!)- , He had found when in America that under the 'most; advanced educationalists,.; single desks! were being bundled out. to make.'way i for dual desks. 1 He' believed in; dual desks''for: the junior classes,'where they would tend .te'en*' courage emulation between '/the' occupants,;' but there should be single desks'in the senior' classes. The Department-yas' : paving, the way for the introduction' of-the single desk, wherovor-it was desirable. 'He agreed.that, tbo method of electing school committees was far- from ideal, and .the sUggestions'fmado tinder-this 1 head would■ be considered 'when,, any, ameiiding legislation' was 1 contemplated. The ■ condition pf tlie schools' of land was;wonderfully good, young country. ". The vote bad gone , up enor-. 'mously,' and great*.attention WaS; being paid to ■ the .; health -of. the; children.' . . He ms strongly of opinion- that medical' inspection ■of scholars should be established as soon ns it could be done.' :Ho. could\ easily spend another £150,000 -a year iiri that/way liament' and the' country;would ; ;grant-it;. The r mattor,.was-.uri'der ,-the;,consideration - of. tho Government.' - -:-'v ;pV -'! :' ;