EDUCATION REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 7

EDUCATION REFORM.

Suggested extension op state SYSTEM. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Yesterday. Mr. Parkinson, secretary of the Educational Institute, has interviewed the Hon. Hanan, Minister tff Education, re the needs of education reform, whereby improvements can be brought about so as to extend the .Statu system and enable it to fully perform its function of natien building. The most urgent matters, he said, were the control and salaries of teachers. The present district system narrowed the ambition «f a teacher's c&renr and prevented interchange, and by lessening the chances of promotion damped enthusiasm. The result was that the State lost ft considerable portion of the passible return for its expenditure, since teachers could not be employed in those classes of work for which they were best fitted. Provin-. cialwm discouraged the 'Best clais Of recruits, thus reacting on the standard of teaching, and the system was wasteful The service was also unattractive by reason of the poor salaries. Only about one in 12 of the adult fully qualified teachers, many with long periods of service, received as much as £3OO yearly.

The Minister, replying, agreed that strong grounds existed in favour 6f nationalising control, and i» remove spme of the existing difficulties he had introduced a grading system whereby merit could be recognised when appointments were being made. He was anxious to see salaries made commensurate with the efficiency and responsibility of teachers so that the best material might be attracted to the service. Ha hoped shortly to be able to place all aspects of this question before Cabinet.