N.Z.E.I.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 14, 17 July 1923, Page 2

N.Z.E.I.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER

THE INSTITUTE'S SUGGESTIONS,

A deputation representing'the New Zealanti Educational : Institute .waited upon the Minister o; Education, thp T i i' LP'} lr> yesterday afternoon, and placed . before : him various readiuturns adopted.during the annual meeting of the. institute, ' p ■•■■■'- • 6, The president, Mr, ,C. T. JUchmail, emphasised that the institute did not W nne ; itself to the mere "bread and butter side of. the projes/upn, but had^ Bet up. recess committees to investigate and report on -.various-aspects of primary school education, w.hich reports would'be referred to the varipus branches.'and lrt trusted that .the results, reflecting the consent., of opinion of SOQO teachers, would, receive due.ppnaderatjpn. He also reminded the Master of a previously expressed promise to consider the question of a teacher's professional register winch would enable the profession t^ purge -its. ranks- of undesirables, and. so • raise 'its'.general status.'l ■ ■•■•. ■/■>, MrvAschman also referred to the question of the.consolidation of small Ichobls as making for better eduactional'pro!'■ gross and less expense, and in' reply%» Minister remarked that, the first Lentia,| to such a reform was the cenverejpß of the small farmer, whoi liked Ui- have a school iyithin" two miles of hi? home Referring to; the grading scheme,'Mr Aschnian said that the profession generally recognised that this was a permanent thing, but there were several anomalies and the equitable operation of the scheme was frustrated by the policy of certain boards in illegally readvertisin^ vacancies, and in conferring appointments upon applicants graded below others. ■. ■ .-. ■ ■■ ••• • ■. ■ . ■

A suggestjon was made that a conference of representatives of the institute inspectorate, .and the Department ?hpuld be held to consider questions relating to grading, and. with that proVml the. Minister agreed, and stated that he would see that such a conference was arranged. , ' • Mr! D W:.>W.-asked.for the introduction of the amending Bill, now nine years old, for :dealing with' superannuation Tl»e Minister said t}, at the anomalies it was desired to remove would cost £25,000, and he was afraid'it could not be done. • ■?■ ■'. •'..• .. •Mr,' Low also asked for the abolition ot scholarships with the object of diverting the present esnenditure for the benefit of country children desiring secondary education.,. •..■■■-'■ ■-. .° ~vm-

.Mr. Parr replied that - his' sympathy was with the country child, biit. they had to consider the desire: of the country parent to get his children to a town college by means of a scholarship:' ' "Mr. F. A. Garry dealt with the necessity for devising a scheme to prevent non-academic-children from drifting 'into blind alley occupations. He also strewed the necessity for a scheme of salsriis, such as the Hylton scheme, which would have the effect of. checking the unending movement of teachers from schpgl to school in search of promotion. . Mr. Parkinson stressed the necessity for a better basis of payment of teachers in district high schools, in order.to.at; tract a better class of ..teacher to. these positions,, and^sp raisjng; the . status""of tlje schools." ■"" ■••■■'•- ••■■ ■■ .:-..■••

The Minister, in reply, promised •to consider tlie. various matters put befpra him, but emphasised that he could not pledge himself to anythiug involving additional expense. He expressed" very great appreciation qf the' work that had been; done by the institute's recess com r mittees in the task of improving thr work of education, . ■:'.--■' • . ■ ] ■■-.