EDUCATION.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1106, 10 February 1910, Page 3

EDUCATION.

A GENERAL CONFERENCE

THE CO-ORDINATION THEORY,

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, February 10

Forty-five delegates are attending the general Educational Conference, which opened to-day, Mr Hogben, In-spector-General, presiding. The Minister of Education (Mr Fowlds),'- in welcoming tho delegates, said this was the first occasion on which it had been attempted to hold a conference representing all forms of educational, effort in the public service of the Dominion. Education in New Zealand had now reached a point at which it became absolutely necessary to .review the work of the various stages in relation to each other, and to the general wants of the community. Its primary object was tho co-ordination of all tho parts in such a way that each would serve its own special purpose, leaving nothing undone that ought to be done. From time to time criticisms of the efficiency of the- educational system were heard, possibly, in many instances, with but slight foun/'atious and little knev,'- 1 "? o£ the Teal conditions. Whether such criticisms were justified it would be the clnty of tho conference, to do its share to secure that no legitimate demand to brino; the education provided Into .closer accordance .with the requirement of the various classes in the community. Tt was especially sought to elicit opinions expressed in the light of professional experience.

Mr' , Hogben said there had been many theories as to the basis of coordination in education. The ideal that appealed to him was that of social efficiency. He- held that if they properly connected education with the life of the community they would co-ordinate the several parts' of the education system with one and another in the most effective .manner. They must, of course, take as wide a. view as possible of the life of the community, and not limit themselves to the consideration of merely external conditions. In other words they should train individuals each for his proper work.