EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9138, Issue 9138, 10 February 1910, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.

MEETS IN WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 10: Forty-fiyo delegates are attending the general educational conference which opened to-day, the Inspector-General, Mr Hogben, presiding. The Minister for Education, in welcoming the delegates, said this was the first occasion on which it had been attempted to hold a conference representing all form of educational olfort in the public service of the Dominion, primary, secondary, technical, and higher education. Education in New Zealand had now reached a point at which it became absolutely necessary to review the work of the various stages in relation to each other and to the general wants of the community. The primary object was the co-ordination of the parts in such a-way that each would serve its own special purpose, leaving nothing undone that ought to be done for that purpose, and doinsr superfluous in the overlapping of facilities and consequent duplication of cost without corresponding benefit to the paying public. From time to time criticisms of the efficiency of the educational system were heard, possibly in many instances with but slight foundations and little knowledge of the real conditions. Whether such criticisms were justified or not it would be the duty of the conforcnce to do its .share to secure that no legitimate demand to bring the education provided into closer accordance with the requirements of various classes in the community remained unsatisfied. He also referred to the constitution of the conference, which was general only by way of distinction from other educational conferences, and that it yras especially sought to elicit opinions expressed in the light of professional experience. Mr Hogben said there had been many theories as to the basis of co-ordination in education. The ideal that appealed to him was that of social efficiency. He hold that if properly connected education witlr the life of the community they would co-ordinatc the several parts of the education system with oach other in the most effective manner, they must, of course, take as wide a view as possible of the life of the community and not limit themselves to the consideration <pf merely external conditions. In other words, they should train the individuals in the State each for his proper work. During the discussion on the work of primary schools Mr Pctrie (Auckland) said he considered the bettor schools in New Zealand were not only equal to the better schools of; Australia; but better than the same class of schools in Britain. It was contended, that more attention should be given to grammar. I