EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18867, 21 May 1923, Page 9

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES.

IMPORTANT REMITS. (Pkb Umited Peres Association.) WELLINGTON, May 18. The following remits were passed by the Technical Education Conference: — 'ihat representations be made to the Minister of Education for a. boarding allowance of Ss a week to bo granted to pupils of technical high schools who are compelled to reside away from home. . That provision be made in the technical high schools regulations for payment 1 of special allowances to all senior mistresses. That technical schools do not pretend to teach a trade-in fact, the teachiers assert that it is impossible to do so under present conditions; but conference is strongly of opinion that provision should be made for day continuation of education in early years of work. That home science bursaries be available for senior pupils taking for training as teachers approved courses of instruction at technical colleges and university colleges, instead of their being allocated only to students at Otago University. That the Minister of Education be asked lo make provision for renewing periodically the trade or vocational experience .of fulltime instructors who ere engaged in vocational training in technical schools and classes. .

That the department be asked to establish New Zealand examinations of manual training and technical instructors at as early a date as possible. . That conference protests against the unnecessary delay in the supply of handwork materials for primary schools, and suggests that the department revert to the former practice of paying capitation. That the department he asked to draw up a model syllabus as a guide for technical high school subjects. That the department be urged to review the position that has arisen from the growth of technical and secondary schools in smad towns; and to endeavour to arrange for consolidating as opportunity permits. That tnis board urges upon the depart meat the desirability of providing facilities for training teachers in technological subjects; with the object of increasing the supply of 'teachers. The conference of technical school managers requests the Plumbers’ Board, New Zealand, that instead of a general report on the Work of candidates for registration under the Plumbers’ Registration Act, 1912, throughout, the dominion, a separate report he furnished to the technical school board in each centre at which the examination is held, specifying particulars in which students are’ deficient, so that fuller infetrucuon may be given in the direction indicated. ,

That, this conference of technical School managers ainf instructors,, requests the Plumbers’ Board of New Zealand to consider seriously the advisability of holding the, examinations for the registration certificate' ih two grades—junior and senior students being allowed to sit for the first examination after they have served three yeajts at the trade, and for the second after five years,, as at present. A deputation afterwards waited upon tne Minister of Education in connection with one or two matters, including handwork supplies, equal treatment for technical school and secondary school teachers, equal staffing of such schools, and special status for senior mistresses in technical schools —that they should have the same status as the heads of departments. Office-bearers of the New Zealand Educational Institute were elected as under: President, Mr C. T. Ashman; vice-presi-dent, Mr F. A. Garvey; treasurer, Mr A. J. Graham; executive —Misses Edwards and Finlaysoti, Messrs A. M’Kenzie, W.' H. Clark, J. G. Burns. Hunter, Purchase, Newton. Wilson. Law. ■' At the conference of the Secondary Schools’ Association - a remit —“That ail teachers in secondary schools who have served for 10 years be allowed six months’ leave on half-pay for the purposes of travel, and that this leave may become cumulative and one year’s leave be taken after 20 years’ service’’ —was carried.' The conference expressed appreciation of the department’s intention to assist class libraries, and decided, to urge the Government to restore the., salary scale in existence before the first salary cut. , The following remits were passed: That the department should consult secondary school teachers’ organisations before issuing important regulations which seriously concern the teachers. . That, since meet-end women, entering the; profession, and new arrivals in the dominion, have not easy access to the Gazette, and since the number of good teachers consequently lost may be considerable and the loss of ~time to all teachers very serious, the: department be respectfully asked to reconsider its, decision to advertise vacancies only ■in the Gazette. That in the interest of girls’ secondary schools and mixed secondary schools, at least j,wb women should, without further delay, be appointed to act on the governing bodies cjt such schools. ■ That this association protest® against the threatened reduction of part-time teachers’ allowance—viz., £1 per head per pupil and in particular against any such reduction as will necessitate dispensing with the services of physical training instructors in secondary schools. ' That this association again protests against the Governmental view that the increase in salaries of teachers in 1920 was in ny sense in the nature of a cost-of-living bonus. That the number of A' grade teachers allotted to schools over 300 be increased. That the staffing of secondary schools shduld be on a sliding scale, thus allowing of the more liberal staffing of schools of lower grades. , That a small staff of teachers be appointed to act, as relieving teachers in secondary schools. , • That in mixed secondary schools there be a sufficient proportion of women teachers on the staff. That if a teacher’s efficiency' be questioned ho should, on application, he told wherein ho fails to satisfy the grading officers. , ~ . That the lack of honours in the M.A. degree should not prejudice a teacher s ohanoes of being graded A in cases where he took the degree before the inception of the grading scheme. ■ That the double degree 8.A., B.Sc., be a sufficient academic qualification for grade A teachers. . That the resolutions re superannuation of the May, 1922. conference be reaffirmed. That the Minister b« asked that widow’s’ pensions under superannuation should be substantially increased. That, since salaries have been raised and, larger sums are being paid into the Super- ■ animation Fund, the limit of £3OO for pensions is now- inequitable.