SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14529, 21 May 1909, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MKETINIi.

Tho annual meeting of tho Dimoilin and .Stibmliyii Svhool t'ouimitte;* ;Vsi:i'inrion was held in the Education Hoard's ollice lasN-voniug. The attendance was large and thoroughly I'i'pro-i'iitalii'e of the nuiiicroiM nnilinlcd school coinniiltws. Mr J. B Waters (president) was chub-man. A.NXI'AI, I'.KI'ORT. Tiie annua! rojKivr. after a few explanatory remark*, continued: — The Minister oi Eduraiion, a? lie promised, in the new bill removed almost wholly the en use.- oi dissatisutction existing in regard; to Hie teachers' salaries, Hie staffing 'anil grading oi primary H-hools, and latterly, on ilie united action of this i,-Foeiation and kindred associ-.liions working with it, made a very generous compromise in the matter cf school committees' powers, which the new bill as drafted unreasonably cnriai-ied. So

s-atisiiid was yottr executive with the Minister's action, particularly in regard to the notice taken of our representations, that a motion oi thanks was prepared and, on his recent visit to Dtinedin; presented to him. On this iccasion your executive was cordially received, and Ik- Minister assured it that, inking into consideration (he progressive and reasonable attitude set up by this association, any representations hereafter made by it to him would receive his earnest consideration. In conjunction with the Educational Institute, your executive was successful in fixing the term holidays for the Dunedin and suburban schools on miifoini iliiU's. and liujim that many of the coutikv schools near the centres in»v lie able to fail into line. Several new school associations have been formed in oilier portions of the Dominion since it was seen what Ibis body hud I'ecomplished in regard (o united paHiuui'utary aetieit in c:uintcJinu with the Education Ac!, the latest Wng in I lie Napier district. A member of this bodv, in communicating with Mi- J. H. Wilkinson, one of your executive, on the subject, said: —

" It will interest you lo know that, in corresponding with different committees on the matter, 1 was referred by two distinct associations 1o the Dunedin and Suburban Committee as the most progressive association in the Dominion." It is gratifying to find that the initiative taken by the association in regard to Empire Day lias been followed up by the strong and influential committee now having the matter of its observance in hand, and we earnestly hope that all interested in the education ot our young will help to their utmost the inculcation of a soirit of lovalty to oar King and Empire. We regret that through the inclusion of the Union Street School in the Normal School we have lost the representatives of a committee so iong associated with us. and who have worked so well in the past, and we take tin* opportunity of expressing our appreciation of their services in the cause of education. In some slight recognition of Jlr T. K. Side;-'; services in connection with the amended Education Act, Riul remembering that lie was long associated as a working member of this association in its early career, v.-e, in accord--

ance with life directions conveyed to us at last bali-ycar':}- meeting, have enrolled him as a life member of this association.

THE L'ilAlllllAX's AUmtKSS.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance tjheet, the Chairman said lie congratulated the association on the possession of so able and efficient a secretary as Mr linker. The record of the year's work guvo some idea, ot (lie obligations which they wero under to Mr linker, but only the members of the executive realised fully how much they owed to his self-dony-ing"labours as honorary secretary. In considering the report itself, he did not propose to traverse again the various matters referred to therein, and he would, therefore, content himself with referring with considerable feelings of satisfaction to the part taken by that association in maintaining the rights and responsibilities of school conimttecs while the new Education Act was before the House last session. It wa.s alio most gratifying to think that, while the position of committees in regard lo the appointment of teachers had been safeguarded, tho status of the teacher had been materially improved, particularly as that association had constMily affirmed the principle that any improvement in the status of the teacher and the staffing of the school must inevitably tend to increased etiiciency. With the attainment of these riiingb it might be suggested that the duties of the association during the immediate future would be comparatively light, but of that he was not at all convinced. In addition to the continual necessity for watching over the interests of the school committees in their district, there were larger matters of policy winch might well engage ills attention of the a'soeiation. The last word was by no moans uttered in. regard to primary educaI ion when the recent amendments to the act were passed, and there still remained many masters of vital interest. The association might, for instance, well consider in conjunction with their friends of the Tcaeheis' Institute such questions a-s free sehool books, uniformity of school books, and tlie improvement, of the present syllabus It was not. however, merely to these matters that, their «.tlon(ion miulil bo specially directed. Looking at our primary schools, they observed two new developments, which were both of abundant interest: to that association. (In the. one hand they saw a movement towards .Stale kindergartens as preparatory institutions for our primary schools, and on the other a development towards technical or vocational schools, which would take up the work of education at the point whero the primary schools left off. Those two developments, the oii« reaching downward from tho primary school, the other upwards, wore at present rn their infancy, hm they believed that they would eventually become of equal importance with the primary school, and I hat finally the whole three—namely, kindergarten, primary, and Itchnical schools—would form one great system of national education. At prevent, of course. Iho cause of technical education was the more prominent, ami be would like to urge upon them the need for members of school committees taking a lively interest in that, movement. For many yoitrs the cause of education Jiatl suffered severely from what he might term the fetish of lite standard. For nearly a quarter of a century people in this count ry seemed to have been dominated by the idea that (unless a. boy or girl was destined for a profession) the passing of the six standards embraced the whole sum of knowledge. This intolerable fallitcy was persistently dinned into the cam of youth, until it was accepted by tho unthinking majority as an -infallible dogma. What had been I lie result? Witli thousands of children I heir schooldays had been regarded very much in the light of u term of penal servitude, which was terminated by the passing of the Sixth Standard, and after arriving at that happy result the fortunate youth was free lo go .forth into the world, cam a living as best he or she might, and spend all the leisure time available in whatsoever amusement might otter. Ask thousands of our youths what they had done in the way of improveing themselves since they left school, and they will fiivcl that boll, they and their parents were of opinion that after nassiug the Sixth Standard any further effort after knowledge was superfluous. No, none of them wero blameless in that matter, least of all their teachers and educationists. And they had to thank themselves if their national worship of Ihe standard fetish had rilled our street, corners with idle youths, and our trades and handicrafts with workers who were. not. nearly as intelligent or efficient as they might, be. During the past 25 years they turned our boys and girls out of the primary schools at, say. 13 or 14 years of age, and to the vwt. majority they offered no further educational opportunities. They had absolutely sacrificed those golden years of youth between the ages of 14 and 18, that time when the mind was wcx

to receive and marble to retain. And vet, for years they had howl speakers declaim on every public platform about our magnificent system ot national education. He was not decrying; our primary schools. Fur from it; but when they found what was being done in other countries, when they examined the educational systems n[ Cormanv <iml Switzerland, of Britain and America, they saw the groat limitations of their own syvtein. Their Inspector-gonoral of Education, Mr Hoffbcn, had recently visited ihe countries mentioned, and in his ivpnrt to the Minister of Education ilio following significant paragraph cccurred (pp. 25). Xow he was exceedingly glad to have l oen able to quote so high an authority as the In>peetor-gen»ral on that subject, and lie might he pardoned for pointing out how fully he'endorsed the urgent, necessity for enabling our youth when they left the primary schools to make the best use of their time {or the next three or four years. '"The primary object of education," eiid Mr Benson, in the National Review, "is to enable a. man to play a. solid part in praelieal ) life, and to distinguish himself, if possible," or, to <p\ote an American authority. " ICducation involves the development el the natural powers of the individual, and the acquisition of knowledge, so that In? may become adjusted to the ideals towards which society is moving. 'Social elhciency' j S| j.hereforo, the best, brief expression of our goal, emphasising the capacily jo do as well as to know.''

While, therefore, they demanded from teachers in our primary schools that thev lay the foiiiulation-sloiie or knowledge, and *> long as it. was well and truly laid, thev care liilb.. wh; liter it ha ornamented with jarhmdvil with cut paper pattern: or .<leiuMlU.il with brush work; having onee secured |hat- foundation, let I hem be prepared ;o build flii'venn a. eiipcrsd-iii-liiro ol vocational iraining which should carry niainp.nl on even courso llie new watchword, "social ollicienev." Here >.n Dunetlin »■ ■beginning ha,| ;l | r ,,. ulv | )t>e|l ma( | oi t , hl , more honour to evervonc of our citizen; who Ji.„l assisted therein. It rested with t io people of (.his city, and especially with those interested in primary e.uWion, to strenglneu tho Technical School movement by every means ava.ilatlo. By so tlofaia 1 »ey would broaden the mental homou ol oirr peopjo, mereasc their usefulness, and develop tlieo character. Nor would material reward'ho lacking, ami in that connection ] re ipwied again from the In-spector-general (pp. 26). That being «,, "«■ was manifestly V ] K W duty as citizens, i.otn lor ethical and economical reasons, lo assist in every way the development of an organoid (.ysiem 01 twJnvical and vocational training, having for j ts object a, continual me r ,, a , u , in , Jw soci(l| ofli(;iu , of our peopu... U'iic speaker, in couclusioii, c.'|,i'e.-sJd Jus that, circumstances "cyoiid hi;i nanirol rendered it, impossible i«r him to take part in school committee work for a. time, lie de-ircd .peciallv ,o hie court,.v of his fnj|, v ,. n,e,ni,er.s of i.„o associuMon, and .part'filially o- tho executive, during j,j s term 0 [ o u\ ccJto CKirec to say that ho would always fodow witli great interest the work of the. association, and he firmly helievecl that "i "'» .'irgmg on and of a. system i" which the kindergarten, the primary, and the technical or vocational school would lorn, compound j]a ,-t s of one liarmemo,..* whole, the association would find a 111. gmhconf sphere of usefulness, which ™»W «-cnlua |y Ix-jicOt, not only JJunedin and hut the Dominion and ftnpire IXTKIiHSTIXO JiXTIIACTS. Wi'j following arc some cxtrack' from Uie liHpecior-gcneral's report: — ihe extension of the c-ltoo 1 n « the toons wo have to kam all irogrosavo countries are practicallv •isreed n, (his: f|, e c< | lK ,tion of *S must not ,case ut the asi! of l;|, 14, or "i when his mtmi is ttili unformed, but n,u 3 t l» earned on ml u the years when he is l*«i" iimg to look at tho world with the maiurer e>cs of inanhocd, and when his interests arc » te« g ,r .1,0,0 ~, the cliihl, but more nearl • do liea wnl, those ot the majori-.y of th ea 1 est ,oil, ls al ,„ Ml d | lim . i„ [<lcl , we „, cxlc-id our a-IKo, age" tor all individuals -nut merely for the professional Mudeutsfrcni It or 15 to IS at least 'J'his dx- not imply that none are to go |o work until'thai p?i hut, even if the necessity of earning a living imues such a course inevitable (as if. undoubtedly dees in the majority of ca'cj still we must so nidify our ideas and'our l'n-et.ie as to give the apprentices in the workshops, the junior clerks in our shops and offices, the boys on ihe farms, and the yirls 111 their homes, ;ha( instruction which wiil hm;o them more efficient i„ Jheir several cttlliiigp, give Ihem a wider onlLok on Ihe world, and therefore make them better citizens. In any case, wheiher the instruction w given in the day lime or in the eveniii"- ' whether atteiidsnee is enforced bv leg;.', enactment or by mutual r.greemcul, it"is absolutely certain that, unless we in New Zealand take steps to imitate the example set b\- older countries, not only shall we fall " behind Switzerland, (iermany, Denmark, Sweden, and Ihe United Stales, but we shall by no means keep pace with the more advanced communities in England and Scotland, where the principle 1 am pleading for is beginning to be recognised.

Wherever vocational l-rainin? (as it has Wen culled) has been sysU-mkv'allv established, tin? cnkiciioy of werknieu (and among them wo must include the Kiaiiit<;ors and fnrc° men of the various indust-ies) has been vastly increased; competent judges. im"ie ?il—Dot educationists, lmt employers—have declared !I]?,'l in some cafes—notably in certain mechanical trades in Germany and in farming in America—the value of the output has boon doubled, in consequence of the awakened intelligence of the workers. Such men would liavß a just claim to higher wages;' hut, what is nwre, the increase of proUnt'.lon would probably afford amnio means of pay. big such higher wage?, for the needs of the civilised world nrc by no means satisfied yet. Mr 0. K. Krast t-ccomlod the motion. TILE MK'USSIOX.

Mr Chadwick conmHiuetitrd the president on his address, and referred to tJie gro-ir, desirability of bringing the kinu'orgiirlen sj-rstcrn of training young- chiidicn into 1110,0 active and universal operation ? u local S! lido!'.-,

-Mr M'Kenzie, speaking to ihe 'niot'on. staled that, ho was opposed to kindergarten work licing taught in schools. Ho thought thai the system inipcsed far ,00 great a lux on tlie youhhfui miml.

Mr (1. U. Israel eongratiihilpl the association on the gooil work that, kid Icon done, anil MlO picock'iit on his c.\> client addrifis. It. s;cmed to him that l-!i?ie was little now left for tk? association to do: neiyliiiug. practically, that the a>;«viation had contended for (hiring i'lie pa«i 20 y;ar* had become legalised. With leloienee to the question of technics; education, this, he thought, was u. largo one. and one ihi'.t liad to be closely wiikdic;!. 'i he <iiffice.!:. v was to tome into comail with Ihe. unmg men, who for some rea.-on or other would not come near the Ti clinical £c-i-,oul. Young women ttirued out in large numbers to the but some technical educatton enthusiasts icil alnn.-! hrnken-licatted when thsy hav . || (nv ,l k -. facilities oli'ered youths to perfect iliem-vlvc* in their trades and profccsioiw were boiiij- =.o greatly neglected. The ir.o.-l encouraging '-lature was lliai many employees were sii|porting the technical cltifc'.'s, ami wore anxious that their workmen and apprentices should receive insliticiioii there. Mr P. IS. Fiasc-r had sounded already the coiitpuhory education note, but, although there was' much to he said [,„• H, a .t, he doubted whether it could be seriously eansklercil yet, Tito opinion wan already held bv members of Hie luatd thai, u ropio-etilative of the avocation would be plni.-c-.il upon the 'IVrhnieal A. ; .aeiation Board 01 Oovernois.— (Appiai;.e.)-liy that mollis it was hoped tuiat the 81-hc.ol Committees' Acxociauou might bo brought into e-io-er touch with technical cdmatmn. Willi reg-:rd to sixth standard ccrtili'ales lie conk! a-sure them liiat th-j board's inspectors did not i t-ue such certificates without due ius]Rx-tioii, and i.irat they were every year becoming ruoio eririeal the c|ua!iiieatio>is eniiriing a chi. I to a proficiency certificate. Or Stenhouiie spoke opposing the kindergarten movement.

Air Ilaolett said lie was disappointed, ami was afraid Or Stonhousc did not use his powers of observation. Kindergarten was to teach children how to play. Mr Dmhie *aid they had heard of old how doctors dilfered. ' This doctor (Stem bouse) had bsen wrong when he prophesied that Uis •• little brains" were going to he injured. The speaker (irmly believed that' kindergarten work .should 'be encouraged. Pome mothers, however well-intentioned, had not tho time or, in some eases, the ability lo teach these little ones.

Mr F. Cummin? said he would do his best to oppose Dr Stonhouso in this matter Ho 'houjht it. would strengthen the hands of tho School Committee being- occasionally asked io visit, the Technical Schools Mr Tsrael replied that tho Teehide-.il Ctaes would probably have a publj/. night, and he would take it upon himself lo ra y that the school committees would ho invijeil to attend.

The Chairman remarked that l.h« annual report had caused an itimsiial amount of discus-ion. Tho technical school movement should lie backed up by the school committer; and employers. The public (should "back no" thi? movement as a whole if it wch In !■«. a success. A l-odv li!;e this coiib! dire.-; public oninien. OFPICE-EEAREII3. The following office-bearers were elected;

Pres-klent, Mr p ( j.|. Todd (Caversham fkhool); vice-pivsident. ltr .1. B. Waters; Mercian- and treasurer, Air CI. C. Baker (re-elected); commit l«.~Dr Church, Rev. Mr Murray. Messrs J. 11. Wilkinson, W. If. I'i'ligh. and U. Moir. M r J.'B. Waters was elockd a lifo member of t |, c ;lssocia . tion.

I lie president,, vio-probident. and the .sec.relary wore appointed dolomites to tli» conferences of the Cnunlrv Schools' ComIllljce Association, ,„ l w j roW ;„ U „ nc di„ (luring show week.

CKXEIIAI. Mr (i. Moir iiiov.--. t |-'"n 111 f this awociajon reeommends , hp „;, an( , , school conmiitUvs In A» ti,„; i i r '»" mitlwinlop holida sTn ' 7 mencing Mav 3la f, , t W ° A f"": (lav, in the\ vw; "on, ~ t''" 1 -' ] '? h ' H" Tin- ,' comm "»cim: Septcmbei la. ilu.-, motion „,, 6 t ] ]o , conference hold botwoen representative of the as'oeialions executive ar.l -„,„, , lives of the Teach-,,' Tnstit„ dales snggcsled would he suitable. fl concerned. '"' JMs was. seconded and carried vmani-

Tin secretary was instructed t 0 write , Mr A. fel.go convoying t« l,i m an n]Wi ._ sion ot hie association's sympathy with him in Hie deep | w 1„, } m Mlst ,,i llw , • tli- doath of his wife. '"

The Hey D. J. Murray gave notice of motion-' Thai flip executive be instructs to reconsider 'lie rules of the aswcblf ion with a view of olcetin<r the m fho ordinary mode of electing o(hV re -and not as at present, bv virtue of his. haytiKt been president; and that the outironic- president lioroinp a mr-mlir-v n p exeeniivc, to be known as the dent."

A lioirly vote nf alroreei.ll.ion of the enod work-don* by ihe outeoin? chairman during the m st year was carried hv acclamation on ihe motion nf Mr i\" n!U t

A vole of t.I-i->l;s to A[ r TH-er'as seerp. lary was enri-ied nnimimou'lv.