EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8265, 30 October 1912, Page 1

EDUCATION

COMMISSION’S REPORT

CONSIDERATION DEFERRED. The Education Committee of the House yesterday reported that the evidence * taken by the Commission on Education was not yet printed in full, and would not be available this session. The committee, being unable to deal satisfactorily with the' findings of tho commission without having before it tho whole of tho evidence on which these findings were based, recommended that consideration of the commission’s report be deferred until next session.

There was a brief discussion when tho report was presented. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) pointed out that the Minister of Education was going away in a few weeks to tho Old Country. One of the objects of his mission was to visit certain schools and institutions to bring himself up to date. The idea that the suggestions made by tho commission should bo held over tilt the Minister returned was simply absurd. Let the Government accept their responsibilities and sec if there were any suggestions that could bo considered directly after tho session, either by the Minister or by his locum tenens. Tho Minister of Education entirely agreed with what tho committee had done, namely, to recommend that consideration of tho report be postponed. There were some questions that could not ho dealt with this session. An Education Bill was coming down directly, and a very important alteration in the education system had been made in regard to primary schools. Physical training on scientific lines was being organised, and this now organisation would be working in a few weeks. He had arranged for a conference of inspectors at the new year to deal with tho syllabus, and he would await their recommendation. Education of girls was included in the reorganisation of tho primary schools, and girls would bo trained in view of the duties they had to perform in later life. Before very long he hoped, to have five women inspectors and five men inspectors at work throughout the Dominion, assisting in the medical inspection of children, Every child should have its card, and they would then be enabled to secure medical and statistical particulars and bo able to make better, provision for the. growth of the children.

In reply, Mr G. M. Thomson (chairman of the committee) said the matter was so important that time, for consideration was. essential. Some recommendations had already been given effect to, and others oould be adopted during the recess, but so far as the main points were concerned they were revolutionary in character, and they bad no option .but to recommend delay. The findings were in many cases not based on the evidence, but on the ideas of those responsible for the report, and would have the effect of completely changing the system. In view of the importance of the subject the committee had decided to devote the recess to further study in order to place the education system upon a sound and satisfactory basis. He himself did not agreo with many of the findings, and ho would oppose them in his private capacity later on. The report was laid on the table, UNIVERSITY COLLEGES. With regard to the report of the Inspector-General of Schools on the university colleges, the ' ■ committee stated that the time at its disposal was inadequate for the duo consideration of this report, and they recommended that consideration be held over till the commencement of next session. This report was also tabled.