EDUCATION CONTROL

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1927, Page 5

EDUCATION CONTROL

AMENDING LEGISLATION INSTRUCTION BY CORRESPONDENCE ! . SCHOLARSHIPS DISCUSSED, (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A bill to amend tlic Education Act was introduced into the House of Representatives by Governor-General’s Message last night. ■ The Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, said that the definition of a private secondary high school had been altered to mean any school which had 20 pupils, instead of eight as at present provided for. Clause 3 of the Bill practically made correspondence schools compulsory for children, who could not attend an ordinary day school. Power was also being given to Education Boards to appoint to permanent positions qualified teachers who had been employed temporally. The boards had asked for this. Another clause provides that a ■board may, with the approval of the Minister, inflict a fine, not exceeding £lO,. on any teacher guilty of wilful

disobedience to any lawful command,

or of neglect of duty, the fine to be «edueted from the teacher’s salary. Where the accommodation available _t any secondary school is not sufficient for all the children qualified for free places and applying for admission, the Minister may direct the governing ‘body of the school to restrict the admission of further pupils. Mr Wright said that this clause meant that children living near a school ■which was not overcrowded could bo ordered to attend that school. Clause 7 of the Bill enables travelling expenses to be paid to members of technical school boards, and Clause 9 allows normal schools to have committees. A new procedure as to staffing where thb -grade of a position is increased is laid down. If a teacher is not to be retained in a position at an increased salary, the board is to take the first opportunity of transferring him tp another suitable position. A teacher is to be notified within one month whether he is to be retained in a position after alteration of grade, or whether he is to be transferred. Candidates for senior national, scholarships who are over 15 but no.t over. 16 years of age in 1928 or 1929 jhay compete for these scholarships. This is a temporary postponement of the new age limit for candidates for senior national sehola whips. Mr P. Fraser asked whether the New Zealand Educational Institute had dismissed the proposal with reference to temporary teachers. He also wanted to know whether teachers would be ' given the right of appeal against n.onappointment. (Mr Fraser also asked whether provision would be made for the Nelson f system of religious instruction.

Mr Wright said that he did not know how the New Zealand Educational Institute would view the proposals with reference to temporary teachers, but it would ha ve an opportunity of expressing an opinion before the Education Committee, In regard to the Nelson system, Cabinet had not considered the matter, but it would be open for any member to move a new clause. Before the committee stage was reached he would endeavour to find out the mind of Cabinet on the matter. There was no intention of introducing any clause dealing with the right of appeal against npn-appoint-ment.