EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 8

EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL

ELABORATE PROVISIONS. EPILEPTIC AND BLMD CHILDREN". (From Our Own- Gobbesfondent.) WELLINGTON, August 30. Tiiis bill, introduced by the Hon. G. Foudds, provides for the addition to the disqualification clause in regard to members of boards and members of school committees within the education district in receipt of salary, fees, etc., as provided in clause 33. A board may, how ever, reimburse to every member the expenses reasonably incurred and actually paid by him in going to or returning from any meeting of the board or of any committee thereof of which he is a member, or in making any official visit of inspection when appointed by the board to make that inspection. Some minor amendments in regard to national scholarships are proposed. The bill contains provisions regarding medical inspection. Any inspector or any teacher of a public school, secondary school, Native sthool, industrial school,, or special school may make such medical or physical examination of the pupils of the school as may be prescribed by regulations, ami may require the parent °of any such child to give all reasonable information that may be necessary in pursuance of or in connection with such medical or physical examination. It shall be the .duty of the parent of any blind or deaf or. feeble-minded or epileptic. child to provide efficient and suitable education for, such chid. If the parent of snch child is deemed by the Minister to- be unable to do so, the Minister may direct that such child be sent to such institution for the education of blind or deaf or feeble-minded or epileptic children as be thinks fit, or he may at that time or thereafter direct that such child be boarded out with dulyqualified persons under such conditions as will secure that the child will receive proper care and be under efficient and suitable instruction, and the said parent shall contribute to the cost of the maintenance and education of the child as may be agreed between such parent and the Minister. Tho hill contains elaborate provisions to enforce payment under this section, and there is further a provision for an _ extended period of. instruction m certain cases, and provision for notice being given to the Minister as to blind and other children. Re the latter the section reads as follows:—"Even' parent, teacher of a school (either public or. private), constable, or officer, of a charitable or kindred institution who is aware of the place of residence (either temporary or permanent) of a blind, deaf, feeble-minded, or epileptic child, and the householder in whose house any such child resides, is required to send notification of the fact to the Minister, giving the name, age, and address of the child, and if any snch person neglects or fails to comply with-this provision such person shall on conviction thereof be liable to a fino not • exceeding £I,' or, iii' the case of a second or subsequent offence, whether relating to the same or another child, not exceeding £5." _ One of the provisions is for the inspection of educational and other institutions that are assisted from tho public revenue. Orphanages and kindred institutions are also to be inspected. Technical high school means ,i technical school recognised by the Minister as a technical high school in which are held before 6 o'clock in the afternoon on five days in each week for at least 20 hours in each week and for at least 30 weeks in eaxm year, special, associated, or. college classes recognised by the Minster under this part of the act. ' Capitation in respect of approved c asses not. being school classes or classes at technical high schools shall be not less than three halfpence, and not more than ninepjmeo for every, attendance In the case of technical 'high schools there' may bo paid in lieu of capitation an annual grant of £10 in respect of each. pupilj or £15 in respect of each free pupil. No payment shall be made in respect of any pupil under the age of 14 years, nor in respect of any pupil who is on the roll of a public school or secondary school. Wlien in the case of a class of less than 20 pupils in a country district it is shown to the satisfaction of the Minister that such class is required by the circumstances of tile locality and is efficiently taught, and further that the attendance at such class is as large as could reasonably be expected, payment at the rate specified above may be made as for a class of 20 pupils -or such less number as the Minister, after consideration 'of the case, may determine, In computing the attendances at such schools it shall not be'lawful to enter on the register for any special, associated, or college class, oxcept as provided by regulations under this act, the name of any person under tho ago of 14 years, nor the name of any. person on the roll of any public school, district high school, or secondary school.

On the application of a 'school committee an education board may require the attendance c.t continuation classes or technical classes of young persons above tho age of 14 years within the school district who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education or who are not specially exempted by the regulations pro-ude-d that no such regulation shall apply to young persons over the age of 17 years. It is provided that the young person shall be required to attend a continuation or technical class if it is held-beyond two miles measured along the nearest road from the residence of such young person, or to attend such classes for more than five-hours in any one week or for more than. 150 hours in any year. If any person fails to notify the school committee or the education board, in terms of any such regulation, in regard to any young person employed by him, or knowingly employs a young person at any time when his attendance is by any such regulation required at a continuation class or technical class, or for a number of hours which, taken with the time required under any such regulation to 'be spent at a continuation dass or technical class, causes the hours of employment and one-half of the time 60 spent to exceed in. any week the period of employment permitted for such voung person by any act, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £2 and not less than ss, or, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, whether relating to tho same or another young person," not exceeding £5. If any parent of a young person by wilful default or by habitually neglecting to exercise due Care has conduced the commission of an offence under the last preceding subsection or' otherwise to failure on the part of a young person to attend a class or classes as-required by such regulations, he shajl be liable to the like penalties as aforesaid. As regards the retirement'of teachers termination by the board of tho engagement of any male teacher on the ground that he has reached the ago of 65 years or of fho engagement of anv female teacher on the ground that'she has reached the age of 55 years,- shall be deemed to be reasonable 'without regard to any other circumstances.