THE EDUCATION COMMISSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 June 1912, Page 5

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION

LAI>T PRINCIPAL'S TESTIMONY.

(BE TELEGRAPH..—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, This Day., Miss Ross, pricipal of the Girt on College, declared there was a marked deficiency in primary schood pupils in essentials when"they came to the secondary schools. That was due to primary school syllabus demanding too much 6f outside subjects. The teachers in private secondary schools would welcome Government inspection so long as their curricula were not interfered wiuT EX-BOARD SECRETARY. Mr. P. O. Pryde, ex-secretary the Education-Board, defended the School Committees having a voice in the selection of teachers, but acknowledged that buttonholing and canvassing on the part of the teachers became a positive scandal in and around Dunedin, Members of the Education Board were the greatest sinners. In Dunedin the electing of Boards by wards was a distinctly retrograde step, and had beeu the means of losing to Otago the services of some of its most able educationists.

There was no comparison with men who were elected under one large electorate. He complained bitterly . of distrust by.the Department of the Boards whose testimony in regard to new buildings and additions to existing ones was rejected or discounted by their recommendations being reported on by rangers and what not. Returns required by the department could be materially simplified with advantage to all concerned. If the powers of co-operation were liberally exercised, there might be advantage in entrusting the control .'-of primary, .secondary and technical education to the boards. A Council of Education would be ..a good thing if it secured the.proper ip- . terpretation of the code, and alterations therein made on .the advice of experts. Conference convened by the'Education Department were useless, because they were dominated by officials jandvery, seldom anything practical was} ■ evolved therefrom. £ . ■

A MERCHANT’S OPINION.. ' ■ Mr. Waters, head of a produce firtn in the city,expressed the opinion that the primary education of to-day did note produce lads so well grounded in the three R’s as the boys of twenty years ago. ■ ■ .. ..:. u ; That was a general complaint among business men during the last three years. Writing- and arithmetic showed signs of improvement,- but acquaintance withpne’s mother tonguo was' lamcntablv deficient. ■» • ’ V