NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 24

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The executive olr the New Zealand Educational Institute met in Christchurch on the 7th inst. , The report of tho proceedings states that in addition to tho purely business affairs of tho institute some questions of public importance were discussed. Ono of these was a resolution forwarded by the Wellington branch, expressing opposition to certain proposals contained in a report of the Council of Education on the education of girls. The grounds for the opposition, were that if tho proposals were given effect to the result would be the practical duplication of schools by the separation of the sexes, thus enormously increasing tho cost at a great sacrifice of efficiency, amounting in the words of tho resolution to 'an educational, and therefore national, calamity. Tho executive decided that the resolution should be remitted to the various branches for general discussion, and should bo dealt with at the next annual meeting. A sub-committee was detailed to draw up a statement for presentation to the Minister of Education in support of the institute's proposal that the present education districts should bo abolished and thenplace taken by a National Board of Education. The grounds on which the proposal was urged are summed up briefly in the words economy and efficiency. Ihe present system divides the country into nine districts as regards primary education, thus necessitating nine sets of administrative machinery, while giving the education service the character of narrow parochialism instead of national unity. The administration of secondary and technical education is in the hands of small boards in each centre. The result is that what should be one of the most important national functions is divided into a series of small and inefficient organisations, having no connection with each other, and in many cases overlapping. There is no correlation of work between the different stages of education, whereby a great deal of promising brain power in the young people of the country is deprived of it» opportunity of development—to the incalculable loss of the nation. A National Board would have the power of unifying and correlating the various educational aims of the country; and would at the same time effect a great _ saving in expenses of administration while improving the training of the nation's young citizens. , . The Council of State Servants' Association asked for an ; expression of the opinion of tho institute with respect to the question of daylight saving, the cost of living, and tho establishing of co-operative stores. The matters were remitted to the branches, which are to communicate their views to the executive. Two or three possible law cases_ also occupied the attention of the executive. The point at Issue is whether an education board has the power to retain uncertificated teachers in a position for which a certificated teacher is available. The point is at present under discussion, and it is hoped will be settled without recourse to the courts.