LESSONS FROM ABROAD

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 62, 10 September 1925, Page 6

LESSONS FROM ABROAD

IN EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

REQUEST BY COUNCni OF EDUCATION.

A request that the Director of Education «(Mr. J. Caughley)..,should be sent abroad, in order to investigate problems of education was made ,i to the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coatcs) this, morning by a, depu : tation of. members of the 1 Council of Education. ■.'-'.

The Hon. T. D. Fleming, M.L.G., said that. it' was twenty years, since a Director of Education had had the opportunity of- visiting Great Britain .and Canada in the interests of educations There was much to be done in the sphere of secondary and technical education. New Zealand would soon have to frame a comprehensive and co-related policy, and amongst the. problems to be studied and '.solved are :—

Secondary education, with alternativo courses. ; "•'■•'.■ Junior high schools.' .' „,\'■'.'. Technical education. ' .- .'. /Training of teachers.- " : . Instruction in special subjects, such a^ history, music, and drawing. Instruction of retardates. Training'of, deficient children. Methods of inspectioir of,: schools. . ■ Systems of

The education vote in' New Zealand was in the vicinity of 3j millions a year —a: huge sum. New Zealand did not grudge money for' education,' but they wanted to be assured that they were getting the best value possible;, for the money spent. The only way they could do' that wasV to send the head of the Education Department to other countries to see what Ayas being dbno there and . to; ascertain where improvements could be effected. They were an iso-_ lated people iii New, Zealand. The Di-' rector was a; man with a receptive mind, possessing technical -knowledge, and was capable of; observing the* best features of systems in other countries' and putting them 'into operation. .They suggested that the Director should be given leave to visit the United .States', Canada, l England, Scotland, and Wales in ' order to investigat* the ' problems which he had indicated; The deputation hoped that the Premier would give favourable consideration to 'the proposal, which had the support of the New Zealand ; Educational Institute. ■ <■

"IN THE MELTING POT"

The Assistant-Director of Education ■ (Dr. " Marsden) 'supported the request, and mentioned the urgent need that existed • for ; aT-revised •' curriculum. The whole /system of--education Was in the melting pot' at the present time:' Miss N. E. Coacj said- that- there was a\ consensus of opinion, among .-teachers that the Director; should go.abroad; in fact,- •at ; the time of. appointment ..the Minister -stated: that - Mr. ,/CJaughley would be .sent abroad. Australian States had sent officials abroad, and. in, America .'and Great ..Britain there were constant interchanges of officials/ ■ '-„■■' ' ..',...' ; : • Mr. W.Bird sai4 that np official holding an '.'lmportant position in the Education, Department had been sent abroad for ,17 years. :.' ■./.; ; ,'■'','..:;'■■■'•..', '■ ■';'

Mr.'.Coates :,,;"Y6u' have 'had: interchanges of teachers."'' " *:■,'■ Mr. :Bivd: "Yes; butja teacher:wlio interchanges,is :more;or less tied down." Mr.i Bird 1 suggested that more, than one official^ should be sent' Home. ■ • >■■''•■ '• •

,'■. Mr. \J,: H. Howell said that'if it was found .impossible to send Mr. Caiigliley Home,j Dr. Marsden at. leasts should bo ■released., ;'-. ;'-.<..'.,,:■■; •'".:.:. ''■'■.':.:-.- -.;■;.

Mir. F. H. Bakewell supported, the request,., and- said that if anything were done it should be done, quickly. ,They had not derived sufficient ■ from the interchange of teachers. : • •

PREMIER'S REPLY

"I Vrather think'that you have come to the wrong man," said Mr. Coates, in reply:' "You should have gonp vto ; the Minister of Education.. I. suppose you have come tome because !my Departments have pursued a;: policy of sending officers Home. 'I may say that'that policy.' will continue in- order that we might keep abreastv of-the times, but I ' don' 6 know what the policy of the Minister of Education is. There may be- some difficulty in letting the ?head of the Department away. If the Minister,thinks that he can't do without the head of the Department, that settles it: If; he can arrange': forborne one else to .go; so much the better. I must say that wesin New Zealand tire inclined to become a little 1 ■ insular., in our outlook on things.''.;, .Mr,, Coates said that they must be careful to send away men who would take advantage of what they saw. He\ instanced what had been'/ done- in v the Public Works' Department j and the Railway .Department, and recalled by the late Prime Minister as to, when "this deputation pf his is going to stop." (Laughter.) He ■ took -it that' Sir..: James Parr was au fait with.the position, and he would, discuss'it with him. .He. was riot going to interfere with the^ Minister of: Education in any way, as he believed in every.man doing his own",job.'; .-.,:'■