EDUCATION REFORMS

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 26

EDUCATION REFORMS

PROPOSALS BY MR HANAN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 6. The Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) outlines the following proposals in his annual report, which proposals, he states, are under consideration: — An extension of the regulations governing free places to provide for free education at technical classes related to industrial occupations and for a higher scale of payments to technical high schools. The establishment of a system of agricultural bursaries to provide for the training of future instructors and experts in agriculture. A fuller revision of the primary school syllabus in the direction of making it more helpful to less experienced teachers and of securing greater thoroughness in primary education. The establishment of juvenile employment bureaux to advise and assist boys and girls on leaving school as to the best means of securing employment suited to their capacity. Improvements in the course of instruction for free place holders in secondary schools, particularly with regard to English, civics and history, mental arithmetic, domestic science, and agriculture. Provision for a more complete inspection of secondary schools. % The establishment of departmental correspondence classes for uncertificated teachers. The standardisation' of school buildings. Among further matters that have been under review or are ready for action when fcUe necessary authority, legislative or financial, is given are: — _ ■ Fuller provision for the extension of compulsory continuation classes, possibly to be held in the daytime. Provision for the consolidation of small schools into larger central schools. An increase of capitation for schools with an average attendance of less than nine. A readjustment of the capitation grants for technical high schools. The supply of school material.-'. A more satisfactory and business-like system of dealing with funds provided for the maintenance and rebuilding of public schools. A temporary increase in the allowances to school committees for incidentals. An alteration in the electoral system of appointment of members to represent urban and rural districts of educational boards. The establishment of small observation schools to provide some means of preparation for untrained teachers before they enter on the work of teaching and the establishment of a travelling dental clinic. Many of the above proposals and some of those already initiated cannot for the present be developed so fully or so rapidly as could have been done if the teaching staffs of all types of schools as well as the staffs of inspectors and other directing officers had not been seriously reduced owing to the enlistment of teachers, inspectors, instructors and other officers. In fact, it is only bv great effort that the schools can be kept going at all, and this renders the present time unfavourable for the introduction of many or great changes.