SECONDARY TEACHERS AND THE SENATE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1910, Page 6

SECONDARY TEACHERS AND THE SENATE.

» REPRESENTATION ASKED FOR. MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. The Standing Committee of the Secondary Schools' Association wailed on vho Minister for Education (Hon. G. Fowlds) to-day to bring under his notice the question of having a representative of the secondai-y teachers on the University Senate. Tho deputation was introduced by the Inspector-General (Mt. G. Hogben).' It was pointed out that the appointment of such a representativewould secure co-operation between the secondary schools and tho university in the matter of examinations. It was necessary that the secondary schools should have some direct cliaiuiel by which these questions might be brought before the Senate. The conference of secondary school delegates just concluded was unanimous in the opinion that, the matter should be brought undei the Minister's notice, to that steps might be taken to secure such lepresentation as was desired. What made the necessity obvious (added the speaker, Rev. C. 11. Morefcmd, Chfistehureh) was the-dif-ference of opinion on certain examinations thai occurred so frequently between the teachers in the secondary schools and the examiners. Mr. J. W. Tibbs (headmaster Auckland Grammai- School), inter alia, mentioned the present scheme of science examinations (a matter touched upon at the conference) should be greatly modified. The scheme in the university science and chemistry remained as it was years ago, and now it was much behind the times. What they 'wanted was that the matriculation examination sJboutd- be made continuous (or cooperative) with the free-place examinations. He believed that they had the support- of the Inspector-General on this question. In reply, the Minister said that he would give the matter careful consideration. It was a question that would require special legislation, and at present he could not quite say whether it was of sufficient urgency to demand this. He believed that it would be in the best interests of education, and that the Senate would be strengthened by a representative in close touch with the secondary schools, and if any amendment was made in the University Act he would lend his aid in the direction requested. Anyway the representations of the deputation would be kept in mind, and it was possible that before long there would be an opportunity of dealing with them. SUPERANNUATION. Mr. J. P. Firth also touched on superannuation mati«rs, principally the phase of length of service. They (the secondary teachers) would like the time of service of the men reduced from the present term (40 years) to 35, aad in the case of the women from 30 to 25. The present condition (he considered) entailed disadvantages especially with the age limit of 65 years. The Minister pointed out that the Act made certain provisions, but in regard to the point mentioned, it could be revised to meet it. As to the part-irular case brought up -that would necessitate an amendment of the Aci, such amendments were vety difficult to bring about. The case involved "backward benefits." lie w.is not veiy hopeful ns to anything being done to applj to such cases

A li.iud- festival will he hold at the Salvation Army Citailr-! on Sunday, Monday, and Tiu\«dny. I'aitiutlai-s are advertised in tins i'sue. The Hon. T. Mackenzie will be present at the Wellington Piovincial FaiiueiV Uaion conference at Maiton next week. On the 27th ho will op«n a drill hall at C»Um'» tlivov, anil b« the si»t he will op«a the Dunedin Winter Show.