SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1910, Page 9

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

CONCLUDING PROCEEDINGS. The Biennial Conference of the Secondary School Teachers concluded on Thursday evening. Mr. J. P. Firth presided. The business transacted was, mainly, passing resolutions of a purely technical nature. The following motion was carried : Mr. J. W. Tibbs (Auckland)— " That <«. committee be appointed to consider during the recess the present method of sel-ectmj Rhodes scholars, and to collect information alwut the methods adopted elsewhere, and to report to the vie.it meeting of the conference; and (2) that the* above committee consist of ths p^sident (Mr. J. P. Filth, Wellington), and Messrs Bevan-Brown (Christchurch), Morrel) (Otago), J. \V. Tibbs (Auckland), and Revs. .Moreland (Christchurch) and J. L. Dove (Wanganui). Miss Marclumt (Otago)— "That the conference considers it desirable that domestic science should form a part of every girl's education."' Rev. 0. H. Moreland (Christchurcnj"That it is desirable, in order to secure effective co-operation between the University and the secondary schools and to further the progress of secondary education, that ths conference should have a representative member on the Senate of the University ; and that the Minister of Education be approached in order to ascertain the best means by which effect can be given to the wish of the conference." Mr. H. J. D. Mahon (Auckland)— "That this conference supports the recommendation of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Assistants' Association re superannuation and appea)" (four clauses specified and already published) ; and "That, in the opinion of this association, the amount per head available for secondary education in New Zealand is insufficient to pay adequate salaries for the work done, or to encourage the best teachers to take up secondary education as a career in life." Mr. Morrell — "That, for the effectual raising of the level of secondary education in New Zealand, there is urgent need for an increase in the proportion of teachers to pupils in secondary schools, and that the number of assistants should not be fewer than one for eveiy twentyfive pupils on the school roll ; and that the ' expediting of the progress of the quicker pupils from the primary schools be secured by grouping Standards V. and VI. in the larger towns into .central schools, where they may be graded according to ability, or by drafting them into the secondary schools at a somewhat earlier age." A REJECTED PROPOSAL. The following motion by Rev. C. H. Moreland (Christchurch) was rejected : — "That a four years' course, certified by the principal of a secondary school, be accepted for matriculation by the Universities as an alternative for the examination." » The personnel of the Standing Committee is as follows : — The president (Mr. J. P. Firth), the secretary (Mr. "W. Walton), Miss M'Lean, Miss Gibson, Messrs C. E. Bevan-Brown, W. J. Morrell, Tibbs, and Simmers. The chairman, on behalf of the conference, tendered a vote of thanks to the Inspector-General (Mr. G. Hogb-en), y,nd the Assistant-Inspector-General (Dr. x\nderson) let their attendance and suggestions. ■ The next conference will be held at Christchurch, probably in two years' time. The conference concluded with votes ov thanks to the chairman, conference secretary, and Miss M'Lean. '