NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13747, 9 September 1908, Page 5

NEW EDUCATION BILL.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. IMPORTANT NEW CLAUSES. OLD SYSTEM OF SELECTION TO 13E RETAINED. J'or lVi'.ss Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. Iv the House of Representatives this evening the adjourned debate on the Education Act Amendment Bill was resumed. Mr James Allen (Bruce} said the Bill made a distinct advance. It provided for an increased staff and increased salaries, but the Minister had made a mistake in giving too much prominence to the former and not enough to the latter. Under the Bill the number of uneertificated teachers would go on increasing, which was regrettable. The extra cost would be £75,000, of which £42,000 was for increased staff, and £33,000 only for increases, in salaries. Tho figures might well have been reversed. Also there were anomalies in regard to staffing and salaries. He expiessed approval of the abolition of pupil teachers, and thought greater facilities should be given to country youths to enter training colleges. The provision for high schools was utterly inadequate. The salaries offered were insufficient for the qualifications demanded. He approved large powers being placed in tjie hands of boards respecting the appointment of teachers. Mr F. E. Baume (Auckland) urged a better system of classification and better chances to become head teachers. There should be. a minimum salary for every grade of teachers. He was totally opposed to the Minister's proposed amendments leavhig the final power of selecting teachers to school committees. Mr R. McKenzie (Mptueka") thought it desirable that-^ school committees should select . teachers, and contended that if education were to be kept healthy and revivified young teachers in the country must be brought into towns and young town teachers into the country. He eloquently defended the pupil teacher system, and strongly urged the necessity of greater facilities in> tHe shape of small schools wherever there were twenty children. Mr Hogg thought the Education Committee had produced a very good measure. The teachers 'ill 'siriail* schools had not been treated with sufficient liberality m the matter of salaries. He drew a harrowing picture of young teachers anxious to get maxried~ w but unable to do so. Mr J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) strongly advocated leaving the appointment of teachers to education Boards. School committees might have ability but did not possess the knowledge requisite to make the best selection. v He also advocated broadening: the "franchise f 6r the election of boards. ; Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa) thought the syllabus was overcrowded and that there was not sufficient cultivation of character and good manners. He said corporal punishment did boys good. Children here were utterly cal-' lous in their, treatment of dumb animals. Mr T. M; Wilford ' (Hutt) • said if school committees were not to have a real voice in tbe election of teachers it w r ould be bettej\to wipe them out. The Bill was unfavourable, to secondary teachers, who would get smaller salaries than under the Bill of 1906. Mr H. Poland (Ohinemuri) protested against the present system of paying teachers, and said they should be paid on length of service and efficiency. Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) said country school committees should get larger allowances.- The appointment of teachers was the fighting clause of the Bill. Some check upon the boards was required. Mr J. Stallwbrthy (Kaipara) generally supported the Bill, Boards, he said, should select the teachers. THE MINISTER'S SPEECH. The Hon. G. Fowlds, in replying, said he desired to take strong exception to Mr Hornsby's speech. The moral character and training of the young wer,e' specially provided for. Country schools wore fairly treated. The salaries of district high schools were as high as possible. Increased staffing was as necessary as increased salaries. It was in the interests of country schools that the boards should have the power to transfer teachers, as good teachers at present refused to ; go to country schools. Salaries were determined by attainments, length of service, and efficiency. Under new clauses which he proposed to introduce, school committees would have power to select teachers from four names. The second reading was passed. In committee the Short Title was agreed to. >