TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 May 1945, Page 4

TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE

CHILDREN’S WELFARE

WELLINGTON, May 10

That the Government be urged to adopt a more rigorous censorship of films shown in public theatres with a view to the exclusion of children under 15 years from unsuitable programmes was recommended in the session committee’s report presented at the annual conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute today. The Committee also recommended that every child should have a complete medical examination at least once a year and that the Department should modernise the interior of schools and fittings and furniture, and provide a pleasanter and more hygienic type of shelter, and adequate lavatory accommodation.

The Committee on Administration urged the Government to recognise the high priority ctaim for education in allotting men, money and materials immediately after the war over private and business needs. The policy on the consolidation of schools should receive careful attention as the scheme had been in operation long enough for teachers, parents and pupils, to be able to arrive at a valid conclusion as to its success. The effect on rural children by their removal to urban schools and the social effects of such removals, also the effect of the removal of the centre of interest from the community life, and the effect on promotion within the profession by such removals should be given consideration. The Committee asked that the Department arrange suitable courses for selected teachers in Various aspects of education. The Executive was called upon to urge the provision of adequate travel facilities for physical education officers. The Conference decided that all monetary grants for district high schools should be on the same basis as for secondary schools. The Committee on salaries recommended the setting up of a primary schools’ salary tribunal and that the scale should be based on paying the teacher and not the position.