CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 44, 20 August 1902, Page 6

CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

« CLOSE OF PROCEEDINGS. Tho conferenco of delegates from the Education Boards of the colony, which opened its sittings tit tho Education board's Offico yesterday morning, was resumed this morning. Mr. J. R. Blair (Wellington) ngain presided. FREE SECONDARY EDUCATION. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie (Otago), seconded by Mr. W. Maculister (Southland): "That tho Government make provision for free secondary education in New Zealand for all children who have passed the Sixth Htan-ivird, subject to the necessary regulations." SCARCITY OF MALE TEACHERS. Mr. Qeo.'S. Bridge (Wanganui) moved v "That the uttontion of tho Ministor be directed to tho lack of young male teachers entering the service, which is probably caused by the small salaries offered to such teachers." Speaking to his motion, Mr. Bridge said thiit his Board had had to appoint boys who had not completed their terms to teacherships in country schools. His Board had not at present a male pupil teacher available for appointment. Mr. T. Mackenzie said lie had drawn the attention of tho Minister to this important matter. Teaching was only a stop-gap with females ; it became a lifeprof ussion for men, who wero not offered inducements to tako up tho profession. Mr. Buddo (North Canterbury) said that his Board had bad to insist that every fourth appointment by Committees of pupu teachers must bo males. Mr. C. A. C. Hardy (North Canterbury) said it was a question of supply and demand. He was sure the salaries offered were sufficient, and the teachers wero not underpaid. Tho Chairman said the colony had been in a state of unrest during the past two years, and our young men nad been much disturbed. ( Tho position would become normal again, and young men would again take up teaching as a profession. There was no profession which offered better opportunities than that of teaching. The motion wns carried on the voices. ' UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS. On the motion of Mr. Bridge, seconded by Mr. F. Pirani, it waa resolved : "That it be a recomendtition to the Minister that xmcerti floated teachers who have suffered a 10 per cent, reduction shall, if they pass their certificate examination, have the lull salary paid to them for tlie year in which they pass." APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Bridge —"That in order to secure uniformity in the appointment of teachers, this conference resolves to recommend to the respective Boards that the following system be adopted :— That when a vacancy occurs, the Hoard shall forwa-rd the names of a!l the candidates eligible for the appointxceit, to the school committee, with testimonials, and that one name be selected, with an intimation that the Board proposes to appoint this teacher provided the committeo does not give valid reasons to the contrary." During the discussion, delegates agreed that thsro was urgent need for uniformity of system throughout the colony M'Hk regard to the mode of appointing teachers. The North Canterbury delegates said that their system was to select "ix names and submit that list to the jonimittots in ordo/r of merit. Sometimes ■ ' dj';cn<d.hoveu'r t that no one on the lut got the appointment. Mr. Talbot O.'clson) said the adoption of such a system -uould stop a large amount of fric'ion which had occurred in the past between Boards and committees over the appointment of teachers. Ihe resolution was adopted. It was ordered that the piocoedings of the .conference should be printed and -1-ics circulated among the Education j '■;:.• rc!s of the colony, fvEi'OT(T TO BE PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT. The kiMi business done, by the conference was the 'adoption ,of a report for pi-excitation -to the Government. The report reviewed tho business done by the conference. > it was , decided that! the Chairman should arrange. for a deputation of delegate to -wait upon the Acting Pmnier Mid tlio ?.»linister f,or Education to present X) - report of the conference. . oteo of thanks wore given to ihe Chairman,, the Secretary (Mr. Ellis, of the Ne>,on Board), and to the Wellington Bc^rd for tho use of its rooms. The conference concluded at 11 o'clock.