DEPUTATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 880, 11 January 1889, Page 30

DEPUTATION.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs Macmorran, Worthington, Scott, Reid, Opie, Dempsey, Cowles and RevT. Flavell, members of the Council of the New Zealand Educational Institute, waited on the Minister for Education on Fi®lay afternoon for the purpose of bringing under his notice several matters which had been discussed at the recent meeting of the Council. The Rev T. Flavell, who was the first speaker, referred to the necessity for having the school districts enlarged. The advantages in doing this were that they w r ould get a better stamp of men to act on the committees —men who would sympathise more with the teachers, and take more interest in educational matters generally, and it would prevent the multiplication of small schools. He gave several instances to show that the Chairmen of Committees often made things unpleasant for the teachers. Mr Opie, in endorsing the previous speaker’s remarks, said that another advantage was that the teachers would not be subjected to so much interference. He also pointed out that when a teacher’s character or ability were being discussed by the powers that be for the purpose of retaining him or dismissing him, he was entitled to an impartial tribunal, and he was more likely to get that if the districts were enlarged than at present. The Council did not think this change would entail any more expenditure upon the Government. Mr Scott brought under the notice of the Minister a resolution which had been passed at the last annual meeting of the

Gotiricii (which irtia to tile effect that the iiumber of compulsory subjects in the syllabus were excessive, arid that class Subjects be. divided into two groups, compulsory, arid optional). It had been felt by. .teachers for sonie years past that the syllabris of work wa3 too extended, and it was feared by a great many teachers that thefe was a danger, through the extended character of the syllabus, of their education resulting in a veneer rather than in good, solid work. The Council thought that an alteration in the syllabus similar to the alterations proposed last year would meet the views of the majority of teachers, and would be a substantial relief to the schools, while at the same time they thought the education of the Colony would be improved by it. Mr Worthington said the Minister was that it ..hail been proposed that drawing Should be Sri individual p’ass subject for every child; Now experience had shown them that it was impossible for some children to acquire that facility in drawing that would satisfy an inspector, and the Council wished the deputation to have drawing made a class subject, and then full credit might be obtained for the teacher and the school for giving so much time and attention to the subject. Parents of some children did not feel the importance of drawing, and they took the opportunity of keeping their children away from school when drawing lessons were given. At his own school the lessons were given on Friday afternoon, and the attendance was smaller than at any other time during the week. Teachers had a high appreciation of drawing as being of So much importance in what was known as technical education, ana they were anxious to do ail in their power to raise the public estimation of this subject. Mr Macmorran urged che enforcement of working average, instead of strict average as at present; and pointed out the great disadvantages and difficulties of the latter system, especially upon the smaller schools. The Minister, in reply, said that, with regard to the enlargement of school districts; they had touched the fringe of a very large question,. , The reorganisation of school committees was involved in the qnestion of the existence or non-existence of Boards, and, with them, the educational districts as they existed. He did not think that Education Boards were a necessary part of the system; and, had his views been given effect to, the school districts Would have been enlarged, and the functions of school committees extended. He agreed with the deputation that if the school districts were enlarged they would get better men on the committees, and he had no doubt that in many instances the teachers had substantial grievances against the committees. One great advantage, he pointed out to the deputation, would be that they would have better classification of their teachers, and their salaries would be better regulated. Referring to the syllabus, he said there could be no doubt that there ought to be a limited number of pass subjects. They would understand that this was a very difficult subject to deal with, and he could not promise any speedy settlement of it. He would, however, undertake to discuss the matter with Mr Habens, and endeavour to draw up a a scheme that would be acceptable to the teachers. Sacred as the present Education Act was, he thought the time had come when they ought, in the interest of education itself and the coming population, make such changes as were necessary to enable them to keep on a par with the other countries of the world, in which the system of education was being changed. The Government had preserved the system from outside attack, for it had. been said that the system was too’ costly, that free education should not go beyond the fourth Standard—in fact, that the whole system should be revolutionised. The Government had no desire to alter the system, but they would make any change in it for the purpose of keeping pace with other countries, and with a view of advancing the interests of the Colony. The Government had had financial difficulties to contend with, and on that score they were entitled to some consideration. They had had to economise, but he emphatically denied that they had starved the system. He was in favour of the introduction of Sir William Hart-Dyke’s Technical Education Bill, and he might say that it was the desire of the Government to give effect to the general provisions of the Bill. This would empower the Education Boards to expend a sum of money in establishing technical schools in the large centres. Large workshops would be erected and schools of art for drawing, &c. With the introduction of these changes all the objections which the deputation had brought forward would be met. . Mr Worthington asked that m the event of any changes being proposed in the Act that- the Council should _ be furnished with copies of the alterations, in order that they might discuss them. The deputation, having thanked the Minister, withdrew.