Evening Post.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 27, 1 February 1907, Page 6

Evening Post.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1907 SCHOOL INSPECTORS' CONFERENCE. Next Tuesday a joint conference of Inspectors of Schools and Principals of 'Training Colleges is to be held in Wellington. Various subjects of very • considerable interest are to be diecussed, and doubtless the regulations will bo altered in accordance with the conclusions arrived at. We understand that the Inspector-General has certain proposals to lay Before the meeting, and wo cannot think but that a mistake has been made in not circnlating through tho press the proposed amendments. Had this course been followed, tho now regulations would have receiaed -tho benefit of puTMic discussion which, though sometimes distasteful to the official mind, must ever result in benefit to the publip at large. Wo believe itho departmental proposals were forwarded to the late Teachers' Conference in ChrJ6tchuxch, asking for an expression of opinion, but we ha-ve-an impression that they wore forwarded as a confidential communication an 4 pot much has leaked out as to the proposed amendments. The District High School system and the condition of admission to free places are evidently to receive a good deal of attention irom tho forthcoming conference. It is much to be regretted that the meetings will not be open to the press, as the froely expressed opinions of the inspectors of the colony, particularly on {.he two subjects referred to, would be eagerly road not by toachers merely .but by the large number of adrainiatra/ ' tors of the Act, members of School ■Committees and Education and High ! 'School Boards, throughout tho colony. The public, or at all events that section •of it interested in higher education, *h&s not yet made up its mind whether the District High Schools are giving tho equivalent of what is considered a secondary education, and doubtless Hho discussion of next week, if reported, ( would tend to assist the public in making up its mind on tho question. Another matter of tho first importance is ,tho deciding of tho conditions on which [pupils aro to receive free secondary education. It has been alleged by teachers in various parts of tho colony 'that the conditions have hitherto been much too easy, that a considerable proportion of "freo placers" aro not qualified to benefit by a socondary school couise, and that they would profit much moro from another year's work in tho elementary ichool. Evidently thero is

the elementary school, a.ye transferred to the secondary school, with its much more expensive staff and more ambitious programme of studies. Next week's discussions, but only if open to the press, would tend to clear up this matter and decide whether the teachei'6' allegations are correct. The pupil teacher system is to be considered, but whether with the intention of mending it, or of ending it, we aro not at present aware. Wo sincerely trust that the amendment of the regulations will be in the direction of the abolition of the pupil teacher Cheapness is the only reason that can be urged for his retention. Other countries are solving the question of the supply of teachers in a satisfactory way, and without having to resort to the cheap and* unsatisfactory pupil teacher system, and there is no reason why we should not now be beginning, seeing that we have four training colleges in operation, to work towards abolition. There is one subject that might well have been included in the agenda paper — the question of the staffing of schools, and the size of classes. There is ground for believing that both in the. North and South Islands, and in the larger schools particularly, classes of undue sizo are frequently met with. Some time ago Mr. Hill, of Hawkes Bas, made some pertinent remarks on tho staffing question, and suggested that no man should be asked to teach a larger class than fifty, and a woman not more than forty pupils. At present classes much in excess of these figures aro common in the larger schools of the colony. It is matter for surprise that toachers themselves have had so little to say about the drudgery of teaching such large classes, and wo shall b.e sorry if next week's conference ends without some amendment of the , staffing regulations whereby staffs of certain grades of school will be so strengthened that- unmanageable classes will be hereafter impossible. It has been here assumed that the present proposal i 6 for the conference to sit with closed doors. If the supposition be correct the position should be reconsidered, and the reporters bo admitted to tho conference.