SECOND READING DEBATE

Northern Advocate, 23 October 1936, Page 4

SECOND READING DEBATE

EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL

SEPARATE BOARD FOR WHANGAREI? ‘ / . [Per Press Association. — Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day. The Hon, P. Fraser, Minister of Education, moved the second reading of the Education Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives today. He said the measure was a comparatively small one, but he was hopeful tliat next session a consolidating measure would be put through. This was overdue and it was a very big task. He hoped it would embody all the best features of the education systems pf the world. - ' . v r;.

The. Minister stated that it was not intended to lower the present compulsory age, but to give children an opportunity of attending school at the age of five; There was an intention to raise the school-leaving age, .but this de r pended on accommodation. The moment they, were satisfied that children would not be overcrowded in primary and secondary schools the leaving age would be raised to 15, and he hoped to do this within one year.

One unsatisfactory thing was the heavy turnover of teachers, who feared, under the present conditions, that unless those in the country schools took every opportunity to transfer, they would be left -behind in the race. Increased Honoraria.

ifxplaimng the proposed' increase in education board chairmen’s honoraria, the Minister , stated their work had increased enormously, and a good deal of personal attention had to be given to such questions; as the consolidation of schools. He referred to the suggestion that education boards covering primary, secondary and technical schools should be consolidated, and said the matter would be considered. He expressed agreement with the Education - Committee that control should be co-ordinated in that way.

He said the Auckland district at

present covered a large area, and, if such co-ordination was, undertaken/ it might he advisable to establish boards at Whangarei and

Hamilton-

Mr Fraser; referring to the pro-; flciericy Examination, said this was started in 1904. It was thought at first that 30 per cent of the pupils' would, pass, but eventually it was fpurid that almost everyone passed. The intention underlying the abolition was to make secondary education available to all, and this, be necessary if the leaving, age were raised. He agreed with the Educational Institute that it would give a charter of liberty to schools, and he believed it would give a chance to the initiative of teachers, - .

He believed, too, psychologically, that it would be better not to have an examination. He did not think the worst form of accrediting could be open to the injustices of the examination system. ' > ; Constant ' Teaching Changes.

Mr S. G. Smith (Opposition—New Plymouth) said the constant changes of teachers this year bad not been to the-advantage of children. The system was responsible for it, not the Minister, and he thought that when the five-year-olds were readmitted there should be a period of notice, so that the necessary number of teachers could be prepared. , He thanked the Minister for the tribute to work of chairmen of education boards, as evidenced by the increase in their honoraria. He agreed that chairmen and members of boards had done wonderful work. He thought that in the past some committees had spent too much of their grants for maintenance and repairs on , tennis courts, not for the benefit of children but for the adults of the district, and some committees had used these to gain revenue for school funds.

J He did not think teachers had

any reason to fear any change that might he made regarding appointments, and thought the time had arrived for a complete overhaul of the grading system.

Mr Smith said there should be greater co-ordination among the Government departments regarding examination certificates. When a child left school, he said, he should be given a certificate giving some estimate of his ability during his school days, and some indication of his aptitudes. Mr Smith did not think there was anything to cavill at in the abolition of the proficiency examination. The teachers would now be able to concentrate on the whole class, instead of on a few pupils, in order to make them pass the examination. The proposal was well worth a trial. He had no fear that there would be any slacking on the part of the teachers, because there would be/no examination. Mr R. A. Wright (Independent— Wellington Suburbs) agreed that the education' authorities should be coordinated, and also that the consolidation of the education laws was neces[sary. 1

The luncheon adjournment was then taken.