EDUCATION REFORM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9257, 26 January 1916, Page 7

EDUCATION REFORM

SOME IMPORTANT PROPOSALS REORGANISATION OP THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’. During recent months the Education Department has been overhauled thoroughly by tho Minister for Education (Hon- J. A. Hanan), with a view to securing increased efficiency and economy in administration. Some of the changes that the Minister has made or has in contemplation have been mentioned already in the “New Zealand Times,” and yesterday Mr Hanan explained his proposals in more detail to a representative of this newspaper. A change of great importance is tho separation of the business and commercial side from the professional side of the Education Department. The business and commercial branch is to be under the charge of a secretary, who will work in consultation with the Director of Education, but will have access to the Minister on matters of policy connected with his oiA(a branch. The present Secretary for Education (Sir Bdwardi Gibbes) is about to retire on superannuation.. The new officer irill he called the Secretary •to the Education Department. . With a view to securing better business methods and financial organisation, and statements in regard to all institutions or branches under the department’s control, an accountant is being advertised for. An appointment will 'be made in the course of a week or two, the new appointee taking up his duties about Maroh Ist. The expenditure in regard to the industrial and special schools of the department at present runs into a very large sum, and the new departure, it is believed, will secure better supervision and financial administrationThe office work generally is to be reorganised, the duties of the head officers of the branches being defined. The Director (Dr Anderson) is to have full control- of and -be responsible to the Minister for the work of the department as a whole." ' The department is also being divided into branches, each with a chief executive officer, who has his duties also defined. The office section under tho general control of the Secretary of the department is also set out. " SECONDARY SCHOOL INSPECTION “I am making;'' said Mr Hanan t “alterations in secondary school inspection. For instance, local school inspectors who have special qualifications and who are now doing primary school work will be selected to assist. There is no reason, for instance, why the services of Dr Don, of Otago, who has special qualifications, should not be ■utilised in thia connection. Ido not propose for certain reasons to entrust the work of inspection of secondary schools entirely, to those- local inspectors. I hop© later to get a man of high academic qualifications who has had experience in teaching in secondary schools, and has capacity for organising work, etc., to act as chief supervisor—to be as it were a supervising inspectorNATIVE SCHOOLS.

“I think some change in . the direction of placing Native schools under local primary school inspectors can be made, and with that view I am thinking of making a beginning in Hawke’s Bay, where a senior primary school inspector is wanted. My present idea is to transfer to that district Mr Bird, M.A., as head office senior inspector who has carried out the inspection of Native schools throughout New Zealand- He could combine the inspection of Natiyo schools with his other duties as an inspector, and also have the assistance of the other inspector there in connection with the Native school inspection. In Auckland 1 hope to have trial given to this new idea.

“I do not purpose, at this juncture, tojslace the inspection of all Native schools entirely in the hands of local district school inspectors. We have a sacred duty to the Native children in this country in regard to their education, arid, caution must, he exercised lest anything may bo done that may not be in the best interests of the Native children.

“In the ordinary circumstances it is the rule to transfer to the Education Board any Native school in which the Europeans exceed the Maoris. Now that the. primary school inspectors are our officers, I think they might make the condition of Native education a matter of inquiry at every public school which has, or ought to have, Maori children on the roll. I should tell you,” said Mr Hanan, “that in connection with visits of officers something more than mere inspection is called for. A man wants to have some sympathy with Native life and Native aspirations to understand the Maori chat acter, to endeavour to solve difficulties, and act the part of counsellor and friend.

“I purpose deferring certain proposals I have in mind in regard to Native school inspection and control of Native schools until I make a visit to some districts with a view of more practically acquainting myself with matters in this connection. There are pertain elements that I, as Minister of Education, and as a trustee for Native educasiln, have to corisider. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. .

“The inspection of : certain, industrial schools can be done by local school inspectors. For instance, at Caversham, the educational work, and some other features associated with that institution. could be inspected by the local primary school inspectors located at Dunedin. With regard to special schools srioh as Otekaike, Sumner, To Oranga, Burnham, Auckland Institute for the Blind—-I am. not disposed, in view of the special nature of the instruction given, and training thereat, that the inspection of these institutions should bo entrusted to the ordinary inspectors of schools.

MEDICAL INSPECTION AND PHYSICAL CULTURE. “After close investigation, I am certainly not satisfied with the position in regard to medical inspection and physical culture. There is a lack of supervision and other weaknesses that call for attention. “I purpose placing physical instruction in each district under senior primary school inspectors. Closer cooperation of physical instructors with the medical inspectors must and will take place under my proposal. The

want of this co-operation at present negatives the best part of the medical inspectors’ work. To run the physical culture side without co-operation with the medical side has been a mistake. “Since I have been Minister, 1 have h;*d in various towns special classes established to give corrective exercises to those children who suffer from certain physical such as pigeon chests- etc. There are some children in our schools who require additional exercise*, and who should be oftener in the fresh air, and should be taught to take a greater interest in themselves. The instructions which I have given will. lead to the services of the medical inspectors and ' the physical instructors being better htilised. I may say in reference to this subject that I have given instructions with a view to saving unnecessary expense in regard to three rooms rented in Wellington tor physical culture. This practice will be stopped and accommodation found in' the Government’s buildings. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. “Considering the large sums spent by the State,” added Mr Hanan', “m running industrial schools, with their various activities, after personal visits and a thorough overhauling of this branch, of work, I am convinced that more attention - will have to be given to business and financial management. Effective' supervision is called for, and better inspection at the institutions on the business side. Certain records are not kept, and returns not made that should be made. A better system of accounts is required at some ,of these institutions, and the preparation of balance-sheets is necessary. Inspection, of course, does good, but expert advice and suggestions to managers are also essential. W© have farming, etc., carried on at some places. This requires special knowledge on the part of an inspector if his inspection and advice are to be of value. “The system that obtains as to the provision of. supplies and stores for these institutions, special schools, calls for reform. No business man, if he owned the institutions, would tolerate what now obtains. I want to see. this branch of the department carried oft more efficiently. OTHER PROPOSALS. “I have other proposals in the way of reforms, which i will outline later. Generally speaking,'’ .concluded Mr Ha nan, “the ideas I have given, axe dictated by a desire to secure to the State better, results for the money taxpayers of this countfy are now paying for the maintenance of the branches of work I have referred to.' While I, as a Radical, am a strong believer in State institution* and : in extending the functions of the State, X like to see. efficiency and economical methods of management intimately as* sociated 'therewith. 11