EDUCATIONAL RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9196, 27 October 1888, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL RETRENCHMENT.

MR. COOPER'S MOTIONS. Mb. Theo. Cooper's motions in respect to retrenchment in the number of teachers throughout the colony, as well as in the salaries paid, were again debated by the Board of Education yesterday. Mr. Lennox agreed that the cost of the education system was very great, and there could be no doubt that any member who devised an effective means of reducing the cost would do a, good service. He saw through the returns in the South that the Auckland Board was effecting all the reduction on its own account, and it was evident that a uniform scale of pay, as suggested by Mr. Cooper, should be enforced throughout the colony, so that Auckland might not bear the whole of the retrenchment. He had been struck with the disproportion in the amount of pay given to assistants as compared with that to headmasters. The assistants holding comparatively irresponsible positions were in many cases better paid than the headmasters. He thought that the question might be referred to a committee, not with a view of keeping the matter secret, but in order that it might be fully and freely discussed by the Board before the resolution was sent to Parliament. The salaries set down in. Mr. Cooper's motion were, in his opinion, quite as much as the colony could afford to pay; but he did not agree with the compilation of Mr. Cooper in respect to the stan". He censidered that in the cities, where every opportunity was given to acquire a secondary education, there was no need for the seventh standard; but in the country there was not this opportunity, and he was of opinion, therefore, that the seventh standard would be of benefit in country schools. Mr. Moat thought ib would have been well had the consideration of the motion been deferred until the forthcoming conference in Victoria had concluded, as the Cabinet Ministers proposed to attend the meetings. He quite agreed that the scale of pay should be uniform throughout the colony ; bub he thought with Mr. Lennox, that the matter should be carefully considered in committee. In his opinion, a more equitable scheme of payment could be devised than upon the basis of the number attending the schools. He objected to schools having less than 50 being officered by one teacher. He thought the seventh standard was altogether out of place in the primary schools, but he looked upon it as rather a clumsy attempt to bring the primary into touch with the secondary system. Air. Luke thought it very undesirable that the scalo should be uniform, as it would tend to take away the individuality of the Boards and tend to centralisation. House-rent, etc., might be cheaper in one district than in another. The scale proposed by Mr. Cooper was too drastic. Mr. Monk should have liked the further consideration of the matter deferred, because it was a matter of great moment. He could assure Mr. Luke that the colony could not stand the present great cost of education. (Hear, hear). He should like to know how many members of the Board would be able to stand the test of the fifth standard examination ? and he took it that they were fair representatives of colonial life. Mr. Monk moved an amendment, "That the school age be raised to six years ; cities to be relieved of small children or under age, by the establishment of economicallymanaged kindergartens. Salaries as follow :—ls to 20 pupils, £80 ;20 to 50, £145 ; 50 to 100, £160 (with £75 to assistant); 100 to 200, £175 (with £100 to assistant); 200 to 300, £200 (with £110 to assistant); 360 to 400, £240 (and £130 to assistant); 400 pupils and upwards, £275 (assistant, £145)." It was an absurdity to pay a man at the head of a country school at a lower scale than thab of an assistant of a city school. There had been a feeling at the Board that anything would do for the country—(no, no) —but he urged that they even required the greatest efficiency in the country. The duty of the Board was to give an average education to the children, and in this country, specially fitted for agricultural pursuits, the tendency of education was to make their children dislike a farming life. It was an intelligent yeomanry that was wanted in this country. He did not wish his amendment to be put, unless Mr. Cooper pressed the motion which he had submitted. Mr, Lennox suggested thab the matter should be referred to a committee. The Chairman said he was sorry that Mr. Monk had moved his amendment. He did not think that he (Mr. Monk) had considered the question. His main contention was that the country should be equal to the city, and this was an unsound principle. The Chairman went on to speak in opposition to Air. Cooper's motion. If they wanted to reduce the system in a drastic manner by saving £75,000 in its cost, let them reduce the number of their establishments—let them abolish the fifth and sixth standard, and raise the school age to six years. Mr. Monk's amendment was withdrawn,, in order to permit Mr. Udy to move, "That the matter be referred bo a committee of the Board, to report as early as possible." Mr. Luke objected to this amendment. The matter had already been carefully considered by the Board. The system of education was the only thing that stood between us and a national revolution. (Laughter.) Mr. Luke replied to a remark made by Mr. Udy, that he did not believe in the present system of education. Mr. Udy or anybody else who said this had no right to a seat at the Board. , Mr. Lennox corrected an impression with reference to country schools. The Board had taken the greatest pains to get the best teachers for the country schools. Mr. Goldie did not believe the country could stand the present cost of education. The taxation was overbearing, and the best friends of education were those who were trying to run the thing well and economically. Mv. Cooper replied at some length to the arguments of the various speakers, and Mr. Udy's amendment was then put and agreed to, Mr. Luke alon« dissenting.