EDUCATION SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 6

EDUCATION SYSTEM

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT SUGGESTIONS FOR CONFERENCE At a meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday the Education Sub-committee of the Chamber submitted a report detailing suggestions for consideration at the,Dominion Education Conference, which has been called by the Minister of Education, Mr H. G. R. Mason. The report, which was adopted, is as fol-* 1 lows: — _ , ~ , Pre-School Period—There should be an extension of the present kindergarten activities along the lines of preschool clinics and nursery schools as at present existing overseas, care being taken to preserve the present satisfactory relationship which exists between controlling bodies, the staff and the parents. More Attention to English Primary School Period.—(a) We suggest an extension of the period of training of teachers so as to raise their academic and practical qualifications, (b) There should be a restoration of emphasis on English, with an,ample amount of reading and speech training, and on elementary mathematics, with special stress on thoroughness and accuracy in fundamental processes. More attention should also be given to physical education. We believe that the claims of other subjects, while not being ignored, Should be subservient to those mentioned above. Secondary School Period—We approve generally of the report of the committee on the post-primary school curriculum with' this qualification, that we do not think that sufficient attention to English is recommended by that report. Post-school Period. —(a) We recommend the provision of recreational centres at which adolescents would be encouraged to undertake cultural or practical activities, such as music or drama, carpentry, home science, etc. Many schools are already equipped for such service, but are idle from 4 p.m. on Fridays for the remainder of the week, (b) There should also be an extension of the activities of the Director of Physical Education to cover this period. Adult Education—We think that the recreational centres proposed for the post-school period should also be used for adults.

Technical Education.—Practical apprenticeship and theoretical technical education should proceed simultaneously within the working week, so that pupils would not be required to attend classes in the evening at an age when their physical wellbeing would suffer seriously from overwork. Higher Status for Teachers

Status of Teachers—lt is essential for the improvement of the whole system of education in New Zealand that the status of all teachers should be raised by the payment of higher salaries and in every other possible manner.

General Scheme of Control.—We do not regard the arrangements for the control of education in New Zealand as satisfactory. We suggest an overhaul of the system so as to establish something on the following lines:— (a) Department of Education. (b) District Education Boards with unified control, staffing and salaries, giving decentralisation of power and control from the department to the boards, and wider representation on the. boards (for example, employers’ bodies to be represented), (c) Kindergarten councils much as at present, (d) Public school committees, (e) Secondary school boards. A generous measure of decentralisation is essential.