TEACHERS’ OPINIONS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 21

TEACHERS’ OPINIONS

Training Colleges and University AFFILIATION FAVOURED After a discussion during which several amending proposals were defeated the following recommendation was approved by the New Zealand Educational Institute conference, continued at Wellington yesterday: “That the training colleges be affiliated with the university colleges.” Defeated amendments were that the recommendation be referred back to branches, that the training colleges be affiliated with the New Zealand University, and that this remit from North Canterbury be substituted: —"(a) That the training colleges in the four centres be handed over to the control of the university authorities together with their buildings, equipment and staffs; and that the general lecturers so handed over be utilised to reduce the size of classes in the university arts and science departments, (b) That a professional lecturing staff of the training college be consolidated with that of the university schools of education and psychological clinics to form a strong school of education in each centre; and that provision be made for educational research work to be undertaken in conjunction therewith. (c) That university degrees in education bo established for teachers and administrators with endorsement as to the special fields for which qualifications are obtained."

The recommendations considered at yesterday’s conference were those of a special meeting of the full executive which considered educational reorganisation.

Speaking against a recommendation of the executive that a committee on which teacher organisations should be represented be set up to formulate minimum curricula in conformity with modern trends in educational theory and practice, Mr. Max Rieke, M.A. (Wellington), said he considered it was asking for an easy syllabus —throwing the responsibility on the teachers and into the domain of the State. “It is asking someone else to do our thinking for us,” he said. They should take the lead not so much in asking for a new syllabus but in putting into practice the freedom expressed in tbe old syllabus, continued Mr. Riske. The leas asking there was for restrictive influences the furthe. ahead they would get in education. . ~ . Miss W. M. Mansfield, of Auckland, considered the whole restriction to be m the proficiency examination. “Does the proficiency examination throw a shadow over the preparatory school?” asked Dr. J. W. Mcllraith, chief inspector of schools. Replies of “Yes, yes.” Dr. Mcllraith: I am amazed to hear that infant mistresses are embarrassed by an examination seven years ahead. He thought the secret was that there was competition among schools for the highest percentage of passes in proficiency, said Dr. Mcllraith. The department did not wish this. He read reports of householders’ meetings where tbe headmaster reported on the high percentage of proficiency passes. A male teacher replied that the chairman of the school committee did this. “They (the committee) are the people who cause Ur> the bother,” lie said. Miss M. H. C. Watson, of North Canterbury, said the proficiency examination was a blot on the whole primary education system. It was a great evil. The recommendation was carried. Among other recommendations approved by the conference were:— “That with regard to the progress ot the technical skill of the teacher it is essential that classes be considerably reduced in size. “That it is essential in connection with these proposals for the university forthwith to provide for a degree in education, the prescription to include a wide range of subject options applicable to all phases of teaching.”