EDUCATION REFORM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 199, 6 August 1912, Page 3

EDUCATION REFORM.

THE COMMISSION’S REPORT. COMPLETE REVISION OF SYSTEM URGED. • CONSTITUTION OF PROPOSED GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.

[per press ASSOCIATION ]

Wellington, Aug. 6. The following is a summary of the report of the Education Commission laid on the table of the House to-day:— ‘‘The recommendations of your Commission embody proposals for the revision of the whole system of primary, technical and secondary education, on lines which should give continuity of government from the Minister to school committees,' retaining a maximum of local interest while ensuring complete responsibility in every grade of activity. The institution of a council of education, five education boards, school boards in large centres, and school committees for scattered districts should be an ideal method of dealing with what we consider is the most important branch of local government in the Dominion, while proposals foi encouraging local contributions t< the cost of education and protectinr of the system in the more remotr localities" should ensure establish ment of great facilities for carrying, on our education system without trenching too largely upon -.hi public purse. WEAKNESSES OF PRESENT SYSTEM.

The outstanding weaknesses of the present education system may b< enumerated as follows: Complexity of Departmental ad ministration. Difficulty of securing satisfactory management in small education districts. Want of uniformity, aim :i/k. methods amongst inspectors. Unsatisfactory methods adopteo by most boards for appointment uiu promotion of teachers. Indefinite and complicated natun of syllabus. Unsuirablity of school building: and equipment in many instances. Inadequate playgrounds. Lack of co-ordination between primary and higher branches c-i education. Want of facilities for rural tram ing. Absence of degree of direct ri ■ sponsibility of boards in expenditure of moneys devoted to them. THE COMMENDABLE FEATURES. The commendable features arc devotion to duty shown by officials rendered without pay or reward by a large number of members of different governing bodies, zeal and high standing of inspectors ano teachers, the considerable measure of success attained in application > i modern methods of education tc problems of everyday life, and tai readiness of pupils to take advantage of the system as is shown by the high percentage of attendance maintained, particularly in those portions of the Dominion where climatic and other conditions rn unfavourable. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL. Your Comnmissioners recommend the appointment of a Council <■! Education to consist of fifteen mem bers and to be called the “Council «<! National Education.” The following members of the council to be appointed by the Governor-in-Councd: The Minister of Education (who shall be chairman), director of education, supervisor of technical education, and two representatives of producing industries of the Dominion. There shall be ten other members who shall be elected under One by inspectoral staffs or several education boards of the Do minion. One by each of proposed five education boards; Two by certificated teachers employed in primary schools (one to represent North Island and the other the South Island); One by certificated teachers employed in secondary schools ; One by senate of University of New Zealand. The non-official and elected mem bers of the council to be paid out of consolidated revenue a sum suffi cient to cover all travelling ex penses reasonably incurred by them both in attending of council and transacting business thereof, to jgether with such sums for each at * tendance at such meetings as the j Governor-in-Council may from time I to time direct. j FUNCTIONS OF THE NEW ! AUTHORITY. i The powers, duties and functions i of the council to be are : ; (1) To report to Minister and ad I vise him upon methods of or de I velopments in State education ir other countries which, in opinion o.' | council, can be advantageously in i troduced into the dominion ; i (2) To report to Minister on any I question relating to national ecluca i tion ; (3) To report to Minister on all (questions relating to administratior of national education within the Doj minion, as weil as to co-ordinatior of all branches of such education ; (4) To prepare uniform code regti lations (dealing with guiding prinei pies but omitting details) referring to school curricula, school attend ance, staffing of schools, classifica tion of teachers, for erection ant equipment of schools, for cost o! transferring teachers and for eon vpvance and board of pupils, foi

grants for scholarships and free I places, for control of training colleges, for maintenance of higher education and for control of other institutions administered by the de part ment. The council is to furnish to the Minister, for presentation to Parliament, a- report covering their operations for each year ending 31st December, such report to be presented to Parliament not later than July, and if Parliament be not then sit- j ting, then within ten days after commencement of next ensuing session. | The council is to meet half-yearly and at such other times as the Min ister may direct. Education Boards should be reduced from 13 to five, one for Auckland, as now, one for Wanagnui, Taranaki-and Hawke’s Bay, one for Wellington, Nelson, and Marlborough, one for Canterbury, Westland, and Grey, one for Otago and Southland. Each, board is to have 12 members, elected for three years on adult suffrage. The chairman is to be paid. These boards are to have the right of control over primary, secondary and technical education and Native schools. SCHOOL BOARDS, FUNDS, AND SPECIAL COMMITTTEES. School boards of seven members should be established in boroughs of over 8000, and may be established in smaller places if a majority of electors desire. Funds to consist of capitation of 5,'- per pupil, such grants as may be made by education boards, Government subsidy of £1 for £1 on moneys raised by voluntary contributions ; Government subsidy of £2 for £1 raised by local rates or contributed by local bodies, who should have the right to set up special committees and. appoint any persons specially qualified to act thereon. Where practicable, education boards should divide that portion of their districts not in the school hoard district into districts containing not less than two, nor more than tenj schools, for which electors should j appoint committees, the education boards to prescribe by regulation the duties of these committees. INSPECTORS. It is recommended that inspectors in each proposed five districts should be classified as follow s :— One chief inspector of £6OO, rising to £650. Two seniors £5OO to £550. Inspectors £4OO to £450. The number of inspectors in each district to be subject to the approval of the Director of Education. FINANCES. ■ The report then deals with finan- : ces and shows that in eleven years; the cost has increased by £504,000. | The Commission ,however, considers) quite £60,000 has little with education in its ordinary sense, | in fact life protection and library subsidies absorbed much of it for instance. The Commission also considers too, many returns are furnished, and makes suggestions for reducing them by some £lO,OOO per annum. Most of the large increase mentioned is due to increases of’salaries and expenditure on buildings, but the Commission docs not consider that such as have been granted are sufficient. RECONSTITUTION OF DEPARTMENT. It is recognised that the Education Department, which now has six branches, should be reconstituted with: (1) a director of education responsible to the Minister for everything but universities. (2) Abolition of Native schools branch. (3) Appointment by Minister of such officers under one director as may be required. SUPPLY OF TEACHERS AND SALARIES. To supply more teachers it is recognised that the number of students at training colleges be increased, and that the number of probationers be increased, and education boards be allowed to allot them to any approved school. The Commission is m favour ol increasing salaries still further in order to attract the most promising voung men, and to this end suggests all schools having an average attendance of over 500 be included in Trade. That no certificated teacher above grade 1 should be paid less :han £150; that infant mistresses in higher grade schools should receive lot less than second ssistants; that eachers in high schools and assisants in secondary schools should •eceive higher rates with yearly increments, and that no deduction should be made from certificated .eacheis under 21 years of age. It was to be regretted that in nany large schools classes of sixty >r seventy pupils were in charge of i single teacher. The coming into operation of the new scale of staffing rill remedy the evil to some extent. >ut even then the ideal of forty mpils per ti-acher would not be •eached. GRADING OF TEACHERS. Dealing with grading, the Com mission reported receiving very complete evidence in Wanganui and

Auckland as to the success of ’he > grading and promotion adopted in 11 those districts, the main features of i which were the prominence given to; tc aching ability, to organisation, and j to attention to essentials so impor-j trnt in those entrusted with train- ■ irg of the youth of the Dominion. It was shown that the great majority I nf teachers and committees in the; districts mentioned were satisfied H at the system was better than the old method of appointment, the evils attaching to canvassing especially being largely avoided. and efficient teachers being ensured fairer opportunities of promotion. Every education board should in-, stitute the system of grading «:;o ' promotion of teachers. At the annual conference of chief • inspectors, application for transfer of teachers from one education dis-! tiict to another could be dealt with. TEACHERS’ APPEAL BOARD. I In the event of a teacher on the! grading list being superseded by the 1 promotion of another teacher. thc' ( former should have the right to appeal against such action to the. committee consisting of representa-j tires of the education board c'>nccrned, representatives of the teacherl, and a chainnan appointed b.v them. In the event of the appeal being sustained, such teacher shall receive promotion at the earliest possible date. i j EXAMINATION AND CLASSIFI- [ CATION. I The attention of your Commission has been drawn to the fact that on K’th February of this year amen.led regulations for examination rr.d classification of teachers were gazet-I bed, and that though the Order-in-Council dates the 25th March for the cc-ming into operation of the regulation, it was postponed until Ist June 1&13. Many teachers were put to considerable trouble and expense in consequence of receiving insufficient notice of the proposed change, and they recommended that in future at least twelve months’ notice should be given before similar new regulations become operative. The Commission further recommended that every facility and encouragement should be given to uncertified teachers to become qualified by allowing them to take examination for “D” certificate ii: sections of any three or more ‘■objects, in any order, and .-..:y c.u year, and that they receive cre-iit! for every subject i.i which th y obtain the pass. ' PAYMENT OF CAPITATION, j The system of paying boards* capitation on manual work done in ' schools on basis of individual ; ttcndance on certain days at schools should bo abolished, and the Government should substitute as a basis the average weekly roll at schools in standards in which instruction is given. The scale of payment fr r country classes should be considerably increased. The system of payment for inis* ruction in technical subjects ) should be revised in the direction of I making payments depend less upon capitation, thus giving teachers more stable salaries and the managing body security of finance. The abolition of district high school, diversion of free-place pupils from secondary schools in favour of attendance at technical schools was adopted by the Commission. The need for uniform examination j in respect to teaching of arts and j crafts was recognised. I The fact of so many pupils leaving! school without passing Standard VI. | justified the introduction ot compulsory continuation classes in techi nical schools. : OVERLAPPING OF COURSES. 1 The Commission found that dupli- | cation of school and college courses I was not at present greatly in evi- | dence. A certain amount of overI lapping existed as between art j schools and technical schools, but I was difficult to be avoided, unless I art schools receiving Government | grants were placed under the con- | trol of proposed education boards. THE EVILS OF CRAM. One of the main, if not chief de- ' fects of the present scheme, was the ! tendency to make public < xamina- | tions the objective, the result being . that the ranks of clerks and vypists I were unduly extended. WHERE WASTE OCCURS. 'Die position of endowments for secondary education rwas hardly as satisfactorj' as would seem to be necessary if the full purpose of that means of ensuring the real intentions of the trusts, in the light of modern methods, was to be carried out. Considerable improvements could be effected in the administration of the funds in question. A saving of some £50,000 per annum might be effected , by, inter alia, alteration of the system of control, the demilitarisation of junior cadets, placing of the whole work of inspection in the ’ hands of boards, reform of free places and scholarships, simplifica- ’ tion of returns, supply of all school requisites to boards direct from the manufacturers, and abolition of postal and telegraph charges. DEMILITARISATION OF , CADETS. The demilitarisation of junior • cadets was advocated in the interests 1 of systematic carrying out of the ' course of physical instruction. It is recommended that two agri--1 cultural colleges should be estab- '■ lished in the Dominion, one in the - North Island and one in the South, and continuation classes in agricul- * ture and dairy work, in connection with district high schools, should be 1 arranged wherever practicable. 1 PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND SYLLABUS. Regarding the primary school sysf tern and syllabus generally, there > was a remarkable conflict of evid r enee. Som? witnesses said school , children to-da.v were not so well ■ grounded as those of fifteen year? ago. but the majority of witnesses were emphatically of the contrary opinion. In order to counteract slovenly speech, indistinct utterance and impurity of vowel sounds, daily practice should be given in the corl rect method of breathing and use of

tengue, lips and teeth. Excr-a-e; should be given daily as to reading. Y iscellaneous reading was unneees s;:ry and even harmful in lower standards and should be disanalysed b ■ the School Journal and supple mentary readers. Various other reform S in reading were recommended. The School Journal should contain p-.etry. Formal lessons in writing should nt be required above s-iandaru four. Arithmetic tasks should be simplifi d and made more practicable. Oral and mental arithmetic should be encouraged in lower classes. Ail desks in classes under standaid five should be capable of mental calcula li-,n, while mechanical accuracv should be a factor in the examination of upper classes. Geography courses should be v. afied raid simplified, and more attc.jtion should be paid to the braenli d aling with industries and products. Stories of historical subjects whuh have been neglected in the pa< should be encouraged. The course of drawing should be simplified, freehand drawing ma L> entirely from nature, or actual u' jects, and geographical drawing p> i-scribcd so as to apply on;y to practical purposes. Travelling instructors should I e appointed to teach singing inn physical education respectively, bom to teachers and pupils. Earnest attention should be given by teachers to moral instruction and Gould’s children’s book of moral lr ssons should be in every school library.

Nature studies should be encouraged and to this end school gardens are invaluable. 'There should be health lessons given in every school, among them being moral evils of intemperance, wnat intemperance costs, and alcoholic beverages and their action on the body. Lectures should be given by dentists on propert care of the teeth. Education boards should t.t enabled to insist on medical and dental attendance when neeessa’-y. There should be only two techni- j cal examinations in primary schools annually. KINDERGARTEN TRAINING, j Regarding kindergarten training, there was a concensus of opinion that this institution was not only the Lest form of infant education, but) was the basis of true technical education. Many witnesses affirmed that children passing from the kindergarten into the infant classes of the State school were better prepared for standard work than other children. These children enter a State school possessing a prepared mind and prepared hands, and quicker powers of observation. The initial step of the education ladder of the Dominion should be kindergarten, ar.d properly equipped kindergarten departments should be attached to the four training colleges. If kindergarten were to be established in connection with primary schools, all infants should be taught therein, and capitation be paid at the same rate to the kindergarten association. HEALTH OF SCHOOL GIRLS. Enquiry concerning the education of girls showed that the present primary and secondary steps pressed 1 unduly on girls between twelve and seventeen. This might bo obviated by extension of the system of accrediting and differentiating school work by giving greater prominence to domestic courses and by limiting the amount of home work in secondary schools. SEX PHYSIOLOGY. Regarding sex physiology, some - thing of the kind should be undertaken, but there was much diversity of opinion as to when and by whom this instruction should be. given. Advice should be given to all boys and girls before leaving school, preferably by parents, anel where possible by the head teacher. ABOLITION OF SCHOLARSHIPS The Commission recommended the abolition of the present system of awarding junior national and education board scholarships and certificates of proficiency and competency. One examination at least equal to thoresent Lee pla<<> examinations should he held yearly, and free place < to high schools, technical day schools, or district high schools awarded to candidates gaining over fifty per cent. Candidates not passing should be required to attend continuation, technical or agricultural schools, unless living more than four miles from school. The money saved by the abolition of scholarship could be expended on boarding allowance for country scholars. BUILDINGS AND PLAYGROUNDS. Regarding school buildings and y the Ooinmission recoinmended regular conferences of education boards, and architectural (plans should be approved by the i Health Department. A centra! ) heating system was recommended ; ‘■-o replace open fires, and single or i lual desks instead of the old- ! -’ashioned long desks. Schools ) should not be used for polling I booths, etc., where other suitable j ouildings are available. In future ) io giant should be given for the ’rection of a school unless at least bur acres of land are available. CENTRALISATION. ' As to consolidation of schools, the j Commission regards this most favI nirably. The advantages are the I lessening of per capita cost, «n i -leased average attendance, longer | periods of attendance better salaries I ind consequently more highly quali- ! fled teachers, better supervision and ! letter material and equipment, such ! is buildings, libraries, etc. ) RAILWAY FACILITIES. ! As to railway facilities fcr ' scholars the Railway Department j ?O’.ild, without extra cost, by slight ) -carrangenient of its service, greatly ) benefit children who have to travel ■>y train to school. FREE BOOKS CONDEMNED. Witnesses unanimously condemned ree school books. The portion of

m ■nev spent by (’ e Department m t! .s direction eomd i>e deiotcd to s' uplenientary readers and books let si hoo! libraries as reward* for zeal. ENCOURAGEMENT < >F TEACH Ei;>. Education boards ‘.liouJd be cne« uraged t<» nominate pt rivdicallv ,i a inspector, prim.u.i school tend. e. . secondari school teaeln r < i t« . luiieal school tcaeliv:-, who. i.i ircognition of zeal, should. it the council thought fit. be given one v< ar’s leave on full pn.‘. to study s- ’.umes of national education in .. ~T parts of tl’.e world. bTATE All) TO OTHEII SCHOOLS OPPOSED.. The Commission rocommemii ■! C at no State aid be granted to any s- condary sthoul i.ot incur control the Education Board Act which d otild be introduced for the registration of all schools of correepuiidSUPERANNUATIO.N. referendum d.ou'.d be taken a: umg the male Kaehei s as to their nd:ingness to contribute an additi » ml amount to tlic superannuation ft ;:d to iner<-;t‘:c idows' pdiHeuf, :n £lB to £26 per year. The Commbsion recommended allowing t:-ichers who did not join the superarnuatioii fund at. the commcnecm mt the right to join the fund on pevment of back contributions, with, file per cen r . interest. Retiring al’owanccs should be paid on three l.t t years of salary or three last years. EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN. Children of schoolable age should r- ; be withdrawn from school during "Ci'.ocl hours for employment : emp'oytrs to be equally liable with parents. Attention was directed to the bad engendered by young children being allowed to loiter about streets or near theatres at night time when ;! ev should be home in bed. CONCLUSION. The Commission’s report concluded with eulogies of the services ren-dvi-cd to the Commission by Mr. H< ben, Imspector-Gi-neral, and Mr. de Castro, secretary. Pl RANI’S .MINORITY REPORT. Mr. Pirani has attached a minority

: i>. r* .’i i> i:i hhr ’.u,- Tim main j. mt. i i wlneh 1 differ fiom tLe' i uclu'-ii>u« < f a '"are majvnty t-f ,■ c-.>L i <-ag’.’.i'- a:c tv,>.>. namely, sei- . .< i>p of an advjojiy icutail ei I meation am! the absence of a rej . mim.-nc.itinn to: the election "I . 1< , t:<-:’'io:t L-i:i:‘<is am] s.-’nool Loa:d- , the sy :<m ot proportional: I: i>«:t. Ap.iit from the un . | •< Id;- p: "p<-t tio:.- in the council <4 I <■ -fiieatiom it is my opinion that tie ’ ■:> -’.mi l-- rifutr.i G po-’-ioh* i.i rd ! i t-.iioil of t uiii-at j<;.t ind.es.p i real control Ithe people I > • ■:> the official ia-a.il of the De- . I, it ment d-H*. ll to m hool comnnt- .~. My proposal a-. lor a council . •■-’•siing <■! a Minis! er and seven 1; •■ t.J,< rs, the -att( rto hold uflii-e for * ■- i'-. iJid to give their si r', ice(i.my to tie- iioik >-f the coimcil. 'i‘ i i n im-inbi ;s. to l-<- appoint- < i u.- t-ieeie.i as loj'ims: Two. • <>f v. Loin should be line:or <.f ;< 'm-Pt!<’:i. to Li* nppctntid Ly the I.’ ni’i'-r: i’-m to Li- ilcciid by {: n:b< r= <-I lb e < dm-a: i-,n L-aid* : ji -• to be elect, d Ly em tifna-<d jt a. Lets (one from tl:<- North I-lamt I u one from the South l-iamii : at.d j ■- to 1-e elected »,. *.•!.<>.•! i:isp< -• Tiie dtitiis <f the co;:m-:l to | : --Imlc control of the v-hole stem ' i- p:i>:i.i:y. secotnl.try and tcthr.ica’ >i '-.’.etai'i'.i. am.l t-> mtet at least j - .'•>' <Kr.v tw<> mo:iti:.~. In the i • ent ’.f anyone active’i < mplo;. < d in |f ■ '.■.cationr-1 v. oi k Liii g app<int<d | t.> the eo’.i’ie:-. hi* i-r i.< r salary i; fi ts ami priviL-ges *o be cons iv< d. . uch saiariis tn !>e paid t • members of the < o:i:n'i as Pnrlia- ,•’. nt m.”2 decide. Members of lh< I am il ro.’.ld speclaii-e in different j u.. L. s <,f < dneation. an.| their ; a it' d c ’-'.fere m<■ riiould mak» fot | <■ ::sidi-rable hem fit to the ailmiuis'.•.'■tion of our t duration system. ■ The council should be entrusted i ■.•■ ifii contiol of funds votid Ly Par- : I:’.mi nt for education, subject oniy i o tl-e icto of the Minister. Ti>t .-■•-preto)ate and grading of teachers , :■ r the Dominion, and promotion. J -l.ou’d be under the control of the ' - cm-iL G::e chief iusjieetor should b- aLlachid to the staff of each education board as superintendent or education i.i the respective educai lion districts.