EDUCATION COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15938, 4 December 1913, Page 8

EDUCATION COMMISSION.

REPORT OF THE COMIfiTTEE. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH COMMISSION'S FINDING. (Fnou Oob Own Cobb'ebpondent.) WELLINGTON, December 3. The Education Committee of :;he House of Representatives during the session has been engaged in very serious consideration of the educational system of the country on the " order of reference" of preparing a report upon tho findings of the Education Commission as presented to the House on August 29 of last year. To-day the Committee, through its Chairman (Mr G. M. Thomson), presented ite report', whicli is a lengthy but concise treatment of the subject, ancj contains suggestions which will form the basis of legislation to bebroug.it down next session. Tho Committee reports that it is in general agreement with many of tho findings of the commission, but :.s of opinion that before they are given effect to by legislative enactment somo of hem jcauire modification. For this reason fae Committee deals seriatim with the findings of tho commission. CONTROL OF EDUCATION. The Committee recommends in the first place the establishment of a council of national education, representing all branches of education, as an advisory body, to meet annually and at such other, times as tho Minister may direct , Tho number of education boards, the report' state, should bo reduced—say, to eight or nine,—but the Committee is not prepared to agree that they bo reduced to five. The education boards should exercise control over all public primary education, and in regard to secondary and teohnical education tho curriculum of any secondary school or technical school,, under separate managers, should bo subject to the approval of tho boards. In order, to secure suitablo provision for the educational needs of tho district and reasonable co-ordinction between the work of all the educational institutions in tho district, education boards should consist of 12 members, nine to bo elected by school committees as at present, one by tho governing bodies of secondary schools, one 1 by the boards of managers of technical schools, and one by all tho certificated teachers of the district.

The Committee is not in ::ayour of the recommendations of tho commission upon school boards. No evidence in support was adduced. It is recommended that the principle of the present school committee system bo retained, ADMINISTRATION. It is recommended that there 6hould bo a dominion scale of salaries of inspectors in three grades, that a uniform rate of travelling allowances should be paid, and that the number of inspectors to be appointed in each education district should bo subject to the approval of the Minister i'or Education. Tho present practice of handing over the Native schools to the education boards should be continued. The inspection of secondary schools free kindergartens, and of manual, technical, and agricultural instruction should bo retained in the hands of ihe Education Department, which should also have the oDntrol and responsibility for the issue of railway passes for pupils and teachers.Simplification of returns is approved wherever possible. It is suggested that an officer of special qualifications should be appointed to supervise the inspection and organisation of agri-. cultural education. THE TEACHERS' LOT. The provision made by the commission for the training of teachers is approved by the committee. Candidates for appointment m secondary schools should undergo one year's training' in a. training college, but such training should not be made a condition of appointment. Since tho commission's report has been drawn up, the reflations havo been amended to permit of ;in increase in the number of probationers, and to permit education boards to allow probationers to any approved school of 'Grade IV or upwards. . ,i i ■ • j Tho Government is asked to bring down a comprehensive measure next session dealing with teachers' salaries. The committee recognises tho value of classification, and is of the opinion that by conferences of the- chief inspectors tho boards will have available expert advice, enabling them to grade teachers on a basis which will be of great value :n appointments and promotion in each specif,! district, will aid in transfers from one district to another, and will probably eventually lead to a dominion scheme of grading. ■ The committee disagrees with the report of the commission that 12 months' notice is necessary beforo new regulations become operative. INSTRUCTIONAL POINTS.

The committee holds that the payment of capitation on manual work in scnool classes . on the basis of individual attendance sliou d be abolished and that the average weekly attendance should bo substituted; that the scale of payment for country elaeses should be increased; that in secondary schools typewriting should not be taught that only the rudiments of shorthand should be i token, but that the principles of bookkeeping, if introduced, should bo taught m a thorough manner. , The principles of continuation classes is approve^-and their establishment is recommended wherever possible. The committee dissents'■ from the opinion that agricultural Hgh schools should be established in agricultural or pastoral districts when the attendance it the District High School reaches an average attendance of 80 pupils, as it approves continuation and development of the present system of teaching agricultural subjects. The committee approves of the establishment of one or more agricultural colleges'for the "training of farmers and tho higher training of teachere and instructors in agricultural work. .. While the committee agrees generally with the suggestions made upon the sylla'bus by the commission, it does not approve of the recommendation to prescribe specially prepared reading books, and that before any alterations are made in the syllabus particulars of the same should.be furnished to all teachers through the various institutes. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. The committee approves of the commission's finding upon the kindergarten, but is not prepared at present to recommend that the kindergarten should constitute "tho initial step of the education ladder" of the dominion. ~_.., Tliero should be greater differentiation of school work between boys mud girls. In the case of the latter greater prominence' should be given to the domestic science course. _ ~,,,, The consolidation of schools should rei ceivc greater consideration from the Education Boards, as both in the primary schools and district high schools considerably improved efficiency, together with economy of administration, might bo secured. . . The committee emphasises the recommendation of tho commission that the Railway Department should co-opcrato in the attendance of children. Monitors should be appointed to supervise the children when • travelling. The Minister is recommended to consider the whole question of superannuation. The recommendations of the commission upon scholarships and free places, and upon private and correspondence schools are approved. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. LEGISLATION NEXT SESSION. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. (FnoM Oun Special Co-respondent.) WELLINGTON, December 3.' Sir Joseph Ward said that this report dealt, with very important subjects, and sketched very far-reaching ohanges. He rccomised that changes were necessary, but tho whole thing should be considered by members very oarefully in the recess, 'lien if the Minister of Education desired to introduce legislation he should bring it down eiirlv in the session eo that it should receive full consideration. 'flic Hon. James Allen, Minister of Education, said he could promise that early next session legislation would bo submitted to the House wb:ch would have every opportunity of considering tho proposals. With regard to superannuation, he could sriy that this question would have to bo dealt with apart altogether from any Bill dealing with education which might bo brought in. As a matter of fact he thought it would be necessary to amalgamate tho various Govcrnrrcnt superannuation schemes, and set up a board which would provide for investments with the Public Trustee. This proposal would also bo brought, down next yoar. Messrs' Russell, Hunan, and Btiddo also spoko briefly, nflor which Mr Thomson replied. , , . i The report is to.be printed and circu-