EDUCATION PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19349, 9 June 1926, Page 16

EDUCATION PROBLEMS.

CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA. RETURN OF MR. CAUGHLEY. GREAT VALUE OF GATHERING. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Benefits of immense value to the New Zealand Education Department are expected to be derived from the recent conference of State directors of education, held at Brisbane, according to the observations made after his arrive! at Wellington to-day by Mr. J. Caughley, Director of Education, who represented NewZealand at the conference. Mr. Caughley said the direct purpose of his visit to Australia was to attend the conference at Brisbane of the directors of education of all the States in Australia and of New Zealand. A wide range of topics was discussed, the conference extending, over about a fortnight. A number of problems arising in each State were more or less common to ail and those attending the gathering had the advantage of seeing the different angle from which they were approaching these problems and the solutions which Were being offered in the different circumstances of each State. In many cases the present policy was guided necessarily by thß previous history of education in the State. In Victoria and New South Wales to a very large extent secondary education was in the hands of private institutions, the Government's entrance into that field being a late development. In New Zealand, on the other hand, the very reverse was the case.

"Another striking difference," added Mr. Caughley, "is the fact that in Australia all administration of education is centralised* in a head office. There is no equivalent to our education boards, high school boards, or technical school boards, and only to a very small extent is there an equivalent to our school committees." "I am quite statisfied that the visit will be of immense value to the department." he continued. "As was said by a speaker at the Rotary Club luncheon to-day life is too short to endeavour to solve problems through one's own experience alone. My attendance at this conference gave me the benefit of the experience of six other States under a wide variety of conditions. The visit will be particularly valuable in connection with the question of the better articulation of the primary and secondary courses of instruction. We have tentatively approached this problem through the junior high school system, but its wider and more general application presents very many problems on which the experience of the States of Australia threw a good deal of light, although we cannot always adopt their methods." ' Mr. Caughley said he was impressed with'' the generosity and hospitality of all the Australians with whom he came in contact, particularly those in Queensland and New South Wales. He Was treated not only as an educational official but as a New Zealandex, and right throughout Australia there seemed to exist the most cordial regard., for .the Dominion; -' At the conclusion of the conference Mr.. Caughley spent 10 days' in New South Wales going into matters of administration with the Director; of Education there; H<3 visited a number of post-primary institutions. With regard to matters of detail and policy Mr. Caughley intimated that these would be the subject of a report : which would be laid before the Minister of Education, at an early date.