DEPUTATION OF TEACHERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18410, 17 May 1920, Page 6

DEPUTATION OF TEACHERS.

NEEDS OF THE PROFESSION. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 15. The executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute met tho Munster of Education to-day, and suggested that there should bo compulsion up to sixteen, up to which age the aims should be education for citizenship. They approved of the Minister’s proposal to separate children at twelve years. The deputation said that a National Education Board scheme would make tor greater unity and progress, and contended that teachers should be under the control of that boaid. They urged that superannuation should be altered to provide an increase in tho widow a allowance- tho inclusion of training college service for superannuation purposes; that annuitants re-employed should bo allowed to earn up to £*24o without deduction; and increased provision tor teachers who retired under the Act ot 1905. It was also urged that a standard for cleaning, sanitation and heating schools should be laid down; that allowances should be granted to teachi ere to meet removal expenses ; and that house allowance be increased. Battel salaries on the basis of efficiency wer( needed if the profession was to securi recruits. What was wanted was a naj tionnl service, nationally controlled amj locally administered. Mr Parr, iu replying, said he recogi nis?d that the education system must be extended and reformed. He was in. dined to agree that the raising of the compulsory age must he done. Tho country was behind the teachers in tho advocacy of reform, and ' he believed that the people were ahead of tho leaders in this respect. He emphasised than much of the social unrest was duj) * a ‘ inadequate education, and that bbitet 1 and fuller training in schools’ was psseiH rial if peace was to be assured in tho future. He spoke sympathetically in riN gard to representations for higher ®ti«. a.ries, which he would put before tho Cabinet as forcibly as he could, Hd would endeavour to open up avenues igr promotion by increasing the status or small schools immediately, apd remove the reproach that the smaller country schools could not get the best teachers.