EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Till: HOARDS AND THE DEPARTMENT.. [BY TFXKOUAIMI.— ASSOCIATION". 1 Di.vkihn, Friday. At a special meeting of'the Otago Education Board, held to-day to consider educational matters, the following resolutions were passed:— (1) ' That in the. opinion of the Board the centralising tendencies of the Education Department arc inimical to lie work of education in New Zealand, and that instead of Parliament diminishing the powers of education boards, they should be extended on sound and economic lines;'' (2) "That better provision should be made for convoying children to central schools in sparselypopulated districts;" (3). "Thai the age limit of 14 years for qualifying for 'obtaining; free secondary education lit* extended as far as country districts are concerned;'' (4} " That adequate encouragement should be given to induce our most capable youths to cute; iiml remain in the teaching profession;" (5) "That in order to relieve the Department of those teachers who have passed their years of usefulness, a superannuation scheme be passed by the Goovernnient." It was decided to forward the resolutions to the Minister for Education, local members of Parliament, and other boards.

The pupil-teachers regulations were conMetered, and i.- was decided to forward them to he Department for approval. The chief inspector reported having conferred with the Inspector-Genera!, when certain alterations were "agreed on. Instead of one entrance .examination, there were now three. Those who began at the beginning on a lour years' course had to pass the Board's entrance examination. Those who eAlered on the Civil Service examinutior were appointed as thirdyear pupil-teachers (serving three years), and those who entered upon tln> matriculation examination served two year.;. Then there was- a reversion to the old order, whereby a pupil-teacher who failed twice in succession to pars the Civil Service examination was dispensed with.

PROPOSED CHANGK OF BOUNDARIES.

[BY TELEGRAriI. — PUKSS ASSOCIATION.]

[Palmkrston North, Friday.

At a, meeting of he Chamber of Commerce to-night a discussion took place on educational boundaries. The opinion was expressed that in (he southern portion of the North Island the boundaries should be readjusted, with a view of giving better representation, and preserving the community of" interest which' had been disturbed of recent years by tlie now developments 01 settlement- < and other causes. Mr. P. 0. Freeth moved in the direction of asking the Government to constitute a new- educational district, with the centre at Palmerston North. In order to effect this, he suggested that the Wellington district should be restricted to the area" extending to h'ketalutna on th«? oito side, and Otaki on the other: the Hawke's Bay district. to take in from Poverty Hay to Ormoudville ; the Taranaki district, from New Plymouth •to Patea: the.YTanganui district, between Patea to Marion (including Taihapo and the towns on the .Main Trunk railway); ami that' the new district should radiate from Palmerston to Qrmondvillc, Kkotahunn, Marßpn, and Otaki respectively. It was resolved to dismiss the proposal at a meeting of members of .Parliament, which lias been convened to consider local questions on the 16th in.-t.