DUNEDIN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 3319, 7 April 1879, Page 2

DUNEDIN NEWS.

Dcjnedin, April 5. The Daily Times, after severely criticising the anomalies connected with the recent examination for school teachers for certificates concludes thus :— " We have pointed out at some length what appears to us the serious faults in the method of examining teachers initiated by the Education Department. It is to the Inspector-General that we look to have these faults amended. So long as he stands aloof, and leaves the burden and responsibility of the work to a large number of disconnected examiners, no matter how skilful little improvement can be looked for. The defects of the plan followed can be avoided by entrusting the drawing up o f examination papers and the valuing of the candidates' work to a select board of two or three competent persons who shall be able to confer together with ease and freedom. No doubt the employment of the InspectorGeneral as Secretary to the Royal Commission on higher education has interfered with his exercising in this matter the careful and judicious superintendence the country is entitled to expect from ,him ; but surely his duties as director of the machinery for examining and classifying the teachers of the Colony should not have been subordinated to the interest even of so important a commission even as that of higher education. We sincerely hope that the holder of this high and responsible office will not degenerate into a general utility man. To the best of our belief there is ample scope in New Zealand for improving and harmonising the methods and aims of school inspection, and we think it high time that this important work was earnestly and energetically taken in hand, and that the officer to whom we must look for its performance should not be prevented by other engagements from making a beginning in this and his other legitimate employments. We have not touched npon the extravagant cost which the management of the bushier of tho Education Department appears likely to involve, but we would suggest that some of the j people's representatives should ask, by way of specimen, for a return of the

charges in connection with the March examination of teachers.