EDUCATION SYSTEM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10898, 12 May 1921, Page 3

EDUCATION SYSTEM

AIDS TO PERFECTION CO-OPEIRATION BETWEEN TEACH ERS AND DEPARTMENT. DIRECTOR'S VIEWS. v The Director of Education (Mr J. Caug'hley) addressed the Technical Education Conference yesterday on the subject of salaries and administration at technical schools. At the outset he congratulated tire managers of the schools upon the enthusiasm they displayed in their work. Exception had been taken to the salaries and staffing at the technical schools. He asked the conference to regard the work of the department in this connection on its merits and judge accordingly whether things were not better now than they had been previously. Surely no one would be satisfied with a return to the old order, of things. By placing the staffs of. technical schools and of primary ,ou the same footing, the department had only done them justice. (Hear, hear) DEFECTS OF THE PAST. It was difficult to expect any set of regulations tp clear up in one year the defects of the past. A distinct advance hart been made in the new regulations, and the department was now in a position 'to make still further . progress on the new basis. There was no desire on the part of the department to lessen the powers of the boards. It would always be -the. desire of the officers of 'the department to co-operate- with the teachers, wh ’ could afford valuable assistance in many .ways. In no field of education was there more scope for development, or more need for improvement than in. technical branches of teaching. Probably nowhere else in the world 'bias the demands of education received such wide attention. MOST PRESSING QUESTION. Education was the most pressing question of tffie day, and it was gratifying that parents so fully appreciated the advantages that were offered to their children in the matter of' technical educa~ tion. There was still room for improvement and he would require the teachers' assistance before long. In face of toe public endorsement of the department's work, it was up to the Government to sea that if did toe best possible thing for the children. The extension of education was a great necessity if they were to meet the demands of the modern ege. (Applause.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Oaughley, and the conference placed' on record its appreciation of his appointment to the Directorship of Education.