EDUCATION COMMISSION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 19 June 1912, Page 8

EDUCATION COMMISSION

BY TELEGEAPB-PEESS ASSOCIATION.

. n DUNEDIN, June 18. Giving evidence before the Education Commission, Miss Ross, principal of wton College, said the primary schools' syllabus demanded too much of outside subjects. The secondary schools would welcome Government inspection, so long as their curricula wejre not interfered with. Mr Pryde, ex-secretary of the Otago Jiducation Board, deprecated the ward «vstem and favored one large electorate He thought the Department should put more trust in the boards, whose recommendations were frequently passed over m favor of reports by rangers and "what not.

Mr Waters, a business man, said the primary education of to-day did not produce lads so well fitted for business life as it did twenty years ago. Mr C. R. Bossence, inspector of •schools, said that the increase in the -cost of education was due to a recognition of the importance of the subject to the well-being of the community, and the acknowledgement of the necessity for thoroughly equipping children for the battle of life. There was no overlapping between preliminary and other schools. He hoped the time would come when every school would have a work-j-eom or laboratory. He thought the -authorities should consider the question -of a differential syllabus for girls' high schools, in recognition of the easentfal -difference between the sexes. He thought more time should be devoted to nature study in schools. Uncertificated teachers in rural schools might be allowed to take the D certificate in more than .two sections.

Mr G. C. Israel, a member of the Education Board, advocated closing a number of small schools and teaching -children living within a radius of ten miles at well-equipped central schools. He was opposed to the curtailment of the powers of school committees. The moral tone in some country schools was aiot good.