The Education Commission.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 August 1912, Page 3

The Education Commission.

OEEICIAL UEi'ORT. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. PItOPOBED AGBIOULTUEAL COLLFXiES. [fek press association.] WELLINGTOX, This Day. Tho Education Commission, in its report, recommends the. appointment of a Council of Education composed of a Minister, Director of Education, a supervisor of technical edncation and two other members representing inspectors of Education Hoards, representatives of producing industries, of certiiicated teachers, nnd of the New Zealand University. This council is to report to the. Minister on all matters connected with national education, to prepare a uniform code of regulations, to make provision for salaries, for grants, scholarships and free places and control of the Department generally. "Education Boards should be reduced to live with twelve members each, tho chairman to be paid. School Boards of seven members should be established in boroughs of over 8000 and in places with less, if tho electors so desire . Their funds should consist of os per pupil and Government subsidies on voluntary contributions, local rates or "bequests. Where there are no school boards committees should he set up with not less than two or more than ten schools in their charge. Jn each Education Board district there should be one inspector at £600 to Cnno. two at C">00 to £j/)0, and others at C-100 to I'lHO as approved by th<. director. TEACHERS' SALARIES. "Dealing with finance, the report shows that in eleven yeans tho cost has increased C5W.000, mostly for j salaries and buildings, but the i

C l ommissiori does not consider that (>ven now teachers are properly paid and makes recommendations for iucroa.ses: also that training colleges should admit more students and that the, number of probationers should be increased. The Commission, considers that CI O.OOO a year might be saved by redlining the number of returns supplied. Classed under single teachers should have n. minimum of forty pupils. A system of grading teachers should be introduced, thereby avoiding the dangers of canvassing. At the annual conference the inspect oik applications for transfers from one education district, to another could be dealt with. There should he an Appeal Committee to deal with appeals regarding promotion of teachers. Twelve months' notice should he given teachers before enforcing the new regulations. Mich as changes in education. The Commission recommends the aholition of paying boards a capitatkm permit for manual work done in schools and to substitute as a 'basis the average weekly roll in classes in which instruction is given. Payment for country classes should be incre;i.«ed. An Agricultural College should be established in each island. The Commission regard favourably the institution of kindergarten training. Various reforms in the syllabus are advocated, especially as regards enunciation, arithmetic and health lessons. Oirls should be encouraged in domestic science, an<l sex physiology should be taught the elder pupils of both sexes. The present scholarship system should be abolished and a- system of free place examinations for pupils instituted. Attention should bo paid to the need, of

lakcm playgrounds and healthy buildings. Hoards should be allowed periodically to send a teacher to other partis of tho world to study schemes of national education. All .schools -of correspondence should l>e registered, nnd all teachers should be eligible to join tho Superannuation Fund Children should not be allowed to loiter a.hout tlie streets la to nfc night. The. Commission's report ■ concludes with a eulogy a* to the assistance rendered by Mr Hoeben. the Tnspeetor-Genoral and Mr de Castro, secretary. Mr Pi rani has attached a minority report, in which ho says that the main points in which he differs from the conclusions of the bare majority of hifi colleagues are two: namely, the setting up of an .Advisory Council of Education and tho absence, of a recommendation for tho election of Education Boards and School , Hoards under a system of proportional representation. Apart from the unwieldy proportions of the Council of Education, ho. is of opinion that there can he no genuine reform in the administration of education unless there is real control hy the people from the official head of the Department down to .school committees. He proposes the formation of a Council of Ministers and seven members, the latter to hold office for five years and give their services entirely to tho council; two of these members to be appointed by the Minister, two by the Education Boards, two by certificated teachers and one by school inspectors. This council is to be salaried and meet at least every two months. Members could specialise in different branches. The Council should be entrusted with the control of funds voted for education, subject only to the veto of the Minister. One CHIEF INSPECTOR should bo attached to the staff of each board as superintendent of education in his district.