EDUCATIONAL

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4593, 20 May 1922, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL

THE TROUBLES OF TEACHERS. COMPARISONS ARE FUTILE. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 19. At tho Secondary Schools Association Conference, a protest was made against the statement by responsible persons, comparing tile standard of secondary education reached by pupils "of Now Zealand nud England. Air T. R. Cresswell moved, arid Mr F Mart.vn Kcyner seconded, a motion confirming that such a comparison is futile, owing to the radical difference in the conditions, especially to the much earlier age, in which the English secondary course is a trying performance. Such New Zealand- students as have proceeded Home, mass of other evidence, have provecl, in the opinion of tho conference, that under the circumstances, the standard of work done in New Zealand schools compared favourably with that of England and elsewhere. The motion was carried unanimously. TEACHERS’ FEDERATION. Wellington, May 19. At the afternoon session of the Secondary Teachers’ Association (Air F. Alilnor presiding), the report of the delegates of tlie combined conference of primary, secondary, and technical teachers and University professors was considered. The conference unanimously approved a proposal to establish a combined body to be called the Educational Association of New Zealand, in order to promote effective co-operation between the different branches of education. Each society concerncd is to appoint five representatives on the Executive Council of the Association, one at least of whom must be a resident of AVellington. Such resident members, together with the officers of the Association, are to form a standing committee to deal with matters of urgency. The following representatives were elected by the conference: Miss Gibson, and Messrs_ Cresswell, Renner, Straclian and Atiller. It wag resolved that a recess committee be set up to make recommendations for a revised syllabus of mathematics, history and civics, physical science and geography for the intermediate examinations. POST-PRIAIARY EDUCATION. The Junior High School proposals, as advocated bv the -Minister of Education, wero discussed to-day by four delegates from each branch of the teaching profession, namely the high schools and technical schools. The following resolutions were adopted: “That the primary course should, in general, be determined by the attainment that can reasonably be expected of pupils who have completed their twelfth year.” “That as an introduction to the new general. system, an intermediate and junior, high school course be established in centres of different types.” “That further inquiry should be diligently made into the education system of other countries, especially England, Scotland, AYales, and America.”