The Sun FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1914. THE EDUCATION BILL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 138, 17 July 1914, Page 6

The Sun FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1914. THE EDUCATION BILL.

-'"■'-•■ Mr Alien's eagerly awaited Education Bill, which was circulated last evening, has the initial recommendation that it was greeted with-a.chorus.of approval by the more captious critics on the other side of the House. In these days of extravagant party and' political prejudice, the Bill must be regarded as having right at the outset of its career achieved an unusual success* The member for Avon, while complimenting the Minister upon the measure, was careful not to give the- Government: - all the credit, but the general tone of the desultory debate that followed the Minister's explanation was such that the Bill promises to be discussed on its merits — a refreshing. change for the occupants of the Treasury Benches. Mr Allen's new Bill is a pretentious and comprehensive measure which is certain to effect much needed reform in a system, cumbrous and unwieldy, and as expensive as it is cumbrous. It is a brave attempt to establish in the Dominion a centralisation scheme of education, and. if-a doubt intrudes thus early it is that the machinery deemed necesr sary to effect such drastic reforms as are contemplated .appears to be more complex than it need be. It has been decided to set up a General Council of Education, consisting of 17 members, which shall meet annually and report to the Minister in an advisory; capacity as to the methods or developments in national education. In addition to this bulky organisation, provision is made for the constitution of district councils, which also will be required to furnish particulars with respect to educational facilities in their own district. Why the duplication? The idea at the bottom of the establishment of such bodies will commend itself to those who have long urged the need for a greater uniformity and correlation in an education scheme, but whether or not such a numerous body as the Ce?icral Council is necessary is quite another question. There is a suggestion in the provisions dealing with this branch of the new scheme that the Minister, in his endeavour to give all sections of educational thought representation on the big council, has planned a- structure more imposing than useful. If we are to have at last a really national system of education, why should there be this differentiation between the two islands? Probably the Minister will find that the number of representatives can be materially reduced without the Council's efficiency suffering. Special care must be taken to ensure that the Director of Education, who by virtue of his office will preside over the General Council,

shall be as highly qualified as possible—there must be no experimenting. The position calls for one of trained organising ability, one who has kept pace with the advance in educational economies i throughout the world, and who is more practitioner than theorist. The pvovlsi<ms in n«w misuse • which will etlcecfc a. reduction in. -the n\tail>etf Ox €dvi<i'iti<i\v bo&¥d& ai'e very necessary, jam! though thefe is <2er£ain fo> be opposition from certain districts, the Minis* ter should not waver. The reduction in the number of teachers' grades, and the raising of the minimum and:.maximum salaries afford further proof that the Government has not forgotten its [promise to do something tangible to improve the conditions of these deserving public servants. Other important proposals concern the election of boards and school committees, a Dominion scale of salaries, belated concessions in salaries to teachers of secondary schools, and provision for increased capitation to secondary schools and to the boards. The Bill is a measure which deserves the most patient and careful investigation by the Education Committee of the House, and -its general intentions are such that members of whatever party can fee'-expected''"to" expedite its uasSS£3 ft* sßs.Ss«ftß3.BOflfci