INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9297, 26 July 1901, Page 7

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

{FROM,OUR PARLIAMENIJRT s REPORTER.) [by telegraph.] Wellington, Last night. The proposal which has oeeu frequently discussed as to JState nspection of private schools was received in the Legislative Council to-day by the Hon. W. Jennings and other members. The Hon. H. Feldwick moved for a return giving the names of the Education Boards in the colony of JNew Zealand which permit of the inspection of private schools under the Act of 1877. Iv support of the motion he said probably hon. members were not aware that the Education Act was differently administered by the Boards. . ome Boards in Southland, Nelson, Marlborout.il, and Westland granted inspection of private schools while others did not. Kxaminatien hy the Board inspectors had benefited the pupils. The return he desired would merely show what Boards conferred the advantage or what did not. The Hon. R. Reeves said that schools examined by the State inspectors showed a higher standard than others. The Hon. O C. Bowen supported the motion, on the ground that it would afford the public an opportunity of judging the relative standards of children examined by tho State officers and those which weto not so inspected. He was in favor of having one body of inspectors, more of whom were needed. The importance of periodical inspections, especially in the country districts, was not fully realised. In his opinion the vote for inspection should be increased as the scope enlarged. The Hon. J. H. Twomey opposed the motion. The Minister of Eduction said the intention of the Act of 1877 was to make education compulsory, and that where children were educated in private schools the State should have some information as to whether they were being efficiently educated or not. The Government had given certificates to enable pupils educated in private schools to (enter the Civil Service. He regretted that t ome Boards were not sufficiently broadminded to grant the inspection of private schools, but as the Act places the power in the hands of the Boards the Government could not interfere. The Boards which refused inspection were not carrying out the law. He was not prepared to ask Parliament to take the power of granting inspection ouc of the control of the Boards, and he would be fully occupied this session in dealing with urgent reforms. He would endeavor this session to settle in a satisfactory manner the larger question of teachers' salaries. The Government had consistently endeavored to prevent unfairness by granting special inspections. The motion for the return was agreed to without a division.