TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 19

TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the King Edward Technical College managers was held yesterday. Mr T. Scott occupied the chair, and there were also present Mesdames Gumming and Herbert, and Messrs W. G. Baird, J. Clark, C. J. Hayward, J. Horn, F. L. Lawrence, J. J. Marlow, L. Sanderson, VV. Steele, W. W. Batchelor, and J. E. Wheeler. The principal of the Dunedin Training College wrote verifying arrangements for six students to observe teaching methods at the Dunedin Technical High School.— Mr Aldridge stated that the students would attend two days a week for five weeks. —This arrangement was approved. The Education Department notified the board of a reduction in incidental allowances from 25 per cent, to 20 per cent., and also regarding the withholding of the maintenance and building grant.—Received. The principal of the Ashburton Technical School wrote forwarding a copy of a letter sent to the Director of Education embodying suggestions for senior free place examinations. —Received. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The principal (Mr W. G. Aldridge) reported as follows: Classes in both day and evening school closed on May 6 for a fortnight’s vacation. Miss Moran was on sick leave for the period of April 25 to May 6, being replaced during the second week by Miss J. Irvine, one of the board’s part-time teachers. While in Wellington on conference business I had a u number of opportunities for learning more definitely of alterations proposed in the education system. It was difficult to secure reliable information on account of the absence of both the Minister and the director, and in some cases several days elapsed before doubtful points could-be decided. Officers of the department seemed themselves .unable to give clear statements, which involved recourse on several occasions to the Prime Minister’s office. The general impression which I finally received was that the Government is determined not to give grounds for any allegation of special unfairness towards teachers; nor on the other hand, to extend to them any special protection. For instance, salary increments, which have been guaranteed for the current year, will not be granted to teachers any earlier than to other civil servants; also a doubtful clause in the latest Finance Act which seemed seriously to threaten a number of salaries in technical schools was finally interpreted by the Prime Minister as not applicable. Teachers as a whole seem to have accepted the Prime Minister’s assurance that the repressive clause in the same Act is not intended to prevent their normal freedom of action. I regard the suggested changes in educational control as one of the less important recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission, and saw no reason to believe, that the Government or the Education Department is in any hurry to proceed with , it. On the other hand, there are distinct signs that teachers in secondary and: primary schools are becoming increasingly ready to discuss problems common to all branches of the service. Board members are aware incidentals are subject to a triple redaction—to one, through a fall in teachers’ salaries, another in the percentage rate by which incidentals are calculated, and a further loss of 10 per cent in the salaries of caretaking and office staff. It seems clear that this third cut was never intended. The Minister of Finance probably follows the advice of the Treasury in imposing it, and disregards protests by individual boards. I would suggest that Technical School Boards in the large centres should make a combined protest on this point. The chief matters before the conference of technical teachers were those relating to juvenile employment, aild to possible restriction of free places. A strong committee presented to the Minister of Labour a valuable report. In regard to free places, it is the department’s present intention to impose a senior free place test on all post-primary schools, in place of the accrediting system that lias been accepted for over 20 years. There seems here a confusion of ideas. If the department is not satisfied with the standard that underlies recommendations, one cannot see why inspectors should not enforce an improvement at once, either by a closer inquiry into a school’s own examinations or by setting a special test here and there. But it is obviously unfair to impose on all schools alike at a few months’ notice a lengthy examination when the courses in these schools have been planned entirely apart from examination prescriptions. Nothing seems more certain than that the advantage would lie entirely with schools that had followed courses designed to suit public examinations, and generally with pupils ' who possessed the knack of answering written questions quickly. It also appears that the labour involved in the examination would be out of all proportion to the supposed benefits, the list of subjects would probably include nearly. 50, the staffs of the schools to be examined would be forced to correct the papers, and every principal of a technical school would find it his duty to urge the claims of students who had failed in the department’s examination but whose record at his school entitled them to consideration. It is quite otherwise with the department’s proposal to institute a school leaving certificate examination for senior pupils. This examination would , be free > from many of the objections inherent in University entrance, and would give a long-sought recognition to senior courses in technical high schools. I trust that the department will develop the idea further. On the general question of restriction of free places, it is possible that economic conditions ns well as raising pass standards may tend to reduce the number of pupils in post-primary schools. If this be so. governing boards are not likely to need to increase their staffs nor to extend their buildings within the next few years. But I am by no means certain that this effect will follow, and would rather urge the board to be prepared for a means of assisting a number of the less fortunate pupils oyer the associated with entering the technical high school. The report was adopted.