EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1921, Page 5

EDUCATION BILL.

DEBATED IN THE HOUSE. LOYALTY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS. NO INCREASE OF EXPENDITURE.. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House to-day the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) moved the second reading of the Education Amendment Bill, which, said, proposed certain amendments which the practical working of the Act made advisable.

Clause 2 provided for the abolition of urban school districts, the provision in this connection not having been anywhere advantage of, and it was only cumbering the Statute Book. Clause 3 gave some education boards the right to fix the date of their own meetings, instead of that being done by statute. Clause 4 put a limit upon the expenditure of rebuilding funds, these funds having in some cases been abused in the past. Clause 5 gave education boards powers to make unauthorised expenditure to a, limited extent. Clause 8 provided for advertising vacancies, with a view to giving teachers in all parts of the Dominion opportunities of applying for any vacancy, in the hope that the best man would get the appointment.

THE LOYALTY QUESTION. There were some private schools which were not at present registered, and the Government felt it had a duty to see that these institutions were properly housed and were efficient, and so power was taken to make registration compulsory. Only efficient schools would be registered. Section eleven sought to free school buildings from the local by-laws by putting them, on the same footing as other Crown properties, and section twelve provided that teachers must take the oath of allegiance. A measure dealing with university professors would be brought down later, as this Bill was not the proper place to introduce such a provision. All they asked teachers to do was to declare their loyalty to King and country. There would be no pottering on this question, because, apart from a recent Wellington case, several complaints had come in from other districts, and inquiries were going on as to the loyalty of two other teachers. The Minister proceeded to emphasise the need . for loyalty amongst teachers, for, as a teacher was, so would the. nation become, his remarks at this stage being subject to constant interruption by a crossfire of interjections from the Labor Party, which called for a warm rebuke from the Speaker. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) asked whether those affected would have an opportunity of making representations regarding the provisions of the Bill, and the Minister said the Bill would go to the Education Committee in the ordinary way. PENALTY FOR PARENTS. Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) said an important feature of education was the inculcation of loyalty, whieh was proposed to be done by periodical saluting of the flag, but care must be taken in doing this. They must make no martyrs among children who object to participate in these ceremonies. They were instigated by their if the latter persisted in instigating their children to disloyalty these parents should be disfranchised. He thought, however, that the inculcation of loyal instincts and discipline might safely he left to teachers. Touching on education generally, he thought there was room for improvement in the methods by making lessons? more attractive, with special provision of good reading matter. Greater use should be made of the school course to teach children, things that would be of use to them in making a living. He advocated teaching shorthand in primary schools, and wished New Zealand might do something to introduce a modification of the written language by introducing a more phonetic system of spelling. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) said there was a great need of more efficient teachers to carry on the work in secondary schools. This was more important than new types of schools, which would involve large expenditure. He stressed the need for greater attention to vocational and agricultural education. America was embarking on a scheme with this end in view, which, if carried out, would put her in the position of the leading industrial country in the world.

NO MONEY FOR BUILDING. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said he believed the school age should be extended to fifteen years, hut he was afraid this reform was not practicable at present. He warned the Minister of the danger of running against local authorities, who were experts in the matter of by-laws covering matters such as the drainage of school premises. Local authorities were responsible for public health, and their officials were better versed in the subject than those of the department.

Mr. R. Masters (Stratford), while agreeing that the Bill generally was a good one, regretted that the Minister was to be hampered in the matter of money for the extension, of building, provision for which was. being cut t down to an extent out of proportion to the reductions in other departments of the public service. He protested against the reduction in the number of organising teachers. Something should be done to make the standard of efficiency of State schools uniformly good, as he was satisfied it was due to a lowering of the standard in some districts that had led to the establishment of private schools. At 12.30 a.m. the debate terminated, the Minister replied and the second reading was carried on the voices.