IN THE SCHOOLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 6

IN THE SCHOOLS

QUESTIONS DISCUSSED BY COMALLTW TEES’ ASSOCIATION., . EFFICIENCY OF TEACHERS. Some important remits dealing with, the welfare of school children were passed at the meeting of the WeWington School Committees’ Association, Hein in the board room of the Bduoation Board last evening. Mr A. J. Whyte presided over an attendance of about In’ - connection with the matter ° r school colours, it waa stated that the primary schools had practically no standard school colours. It was decoded to request the school committees to send, on their colours to the association for registration. ' . On the motion of Mr A. Sando, and seconded by Mr J. Wallace,. the following motion was carried: —* This association resolves that to avoid dislocation, of the school teaching staffs, and thus 'impairing the efficiency of the work, it is necessary that provision be made for a greater range of salaries - without . the necessity of transfer of position. Salaries should be baSect on efficiency, academic attainments, service, and domestio responsibility. This resolution to he presented to the Minister for Education from this association.’’ . The following remit from the Northland Committee was, after a lengthy discussion, referred hack to the sender for reconsideration: —“That the . Education Board be approached .with a view to providing for a periodical inspection of all schools, to see that fences, drains, latrines and grounds are kept in good ordjr and condition." “THE LITTLE STRANGER.” Exception was taken to the action of tho authorities in placing school children into a strange school to sit for their proficiency examination. The subject was covered by the following motion. moved by the Taita Committee, being eventually carried: —“That this association emphatically .protests against the practice of children being taken into a strange school to sit for their proficiency examination, and requests the Education Board to make such, arrangements as will obviate the necessity of haying children •' so - situated' in the future.” In moving the remit for his committee. Mr Burgess said that children were naturally highly-strung and diffident, and a change from their regular school —which they always came to regard as almost a home—would militate against their progress. The very environment. to which the child was not accustomed was detrimental to advancement. Examination time wgs always a strenuous time for a school 'boy or girl, and they should he in complete accord with their surroundings. It was deIcided': "“That* the ' association endorse th 1 motion and have it forwarded to the Education Department.” I* was also moved by the Taita representative and carried: “That this association strongly disapproves of the cuetom of different cards being used, for the arithmetic proficiency examination, and requests that uniform «paperu and cards be used in each school for such examination.”