THE SCHOOL INSPECTORS' CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 18

THE SCHOOL INSPECTORS' CONFERENCE.

CmiisTcnimcii, February 15. The Minister for Education has received, through the hands of the committee appointed for the purpose, the formal report of tho School Inspectors' Conference recently held in Wellington. _ At the outset the report states that all the inspectors of the several education districts were present almost throughout the session, except Mr Robinson, of Greymouth, who was prevented by sickness from attending. The summary of suggestions sent previously to the Inspector-general of Schools was practically made the agenda paper for the first part of the proceedings. The control of inspectorate, or the question as to whether inspectors should become officers of the Education department or whether they should remain officers of the several education boards, thus became the first important question for discussion. Nearly every member of the conference spoke on the question, and it was finally resolved that they remain officers of education boards. The next question which came up for discussion was the standard pass system of examination of schools, and the attitude of the conference was expressed in the resolutions which it passed, and which were duly reported at the time in the daily papers. The report then proceeds to point out that while members of the conference are aware that grave disadvantages attend the existing system of testing the work of schools mainly by means of standard passes, they highly appreciate the service this system has already done in the cause of primary education in New Zealand, and they cannot at present see their way to recommend its abolition in favour of any scheme yet proposed as an alternative. They think, however, there are strong reasons for modifying its operation in the directions indicated, and in respect of which recommendations were passed, which the report goes on to recapitulate. These recommendations have all been published. All the other resolutions passed by the conference are also given. In closing the report, the inspectors say they have for years felt that such a meeting as that now concluded was desirable, and they feel gratified at the action of the Minister in convening their first assembly. The indirect benefits derived by members in personally coming into touch with one another, by the insight gained into the working methods in operation in the several education districts, and by tho discussion of the matters detailed during the long session of six days' duration have practically done as much to lead to approximate uniformity of examination as the resolutions included in the roport would do if given effect to by the Minister for Education.