EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144429, 17 July 1914, Page 3

EDUCATION BILL.

COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE.

GREATER CENTRALISATION".

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 WELLINGTON, July 16. In the House of Representatives tonight, the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Education, explained the provisions of the Education Bill. Provision was made in it, he said, for the election of women to the Education Council. It was proposed to give representation on the Education Council to all interests, from primary schools to universities. Ho thought it was wise that the Minister should not be upon the Oouncilj so that he would bo free in the administration of the Department. Ho proceeded to explain tho proposed representation for the North and South Island secondary and technical and primary schools. The Education Council would contain 17. Altogether apart from the Council, there would bo district councils. Teachers wore to be given representation.^ 1 He hoped Parliament would help him to fix the boundaries of tho nine-pro-posed Education Districts. There would be urban and suburban districts. It was proposed that elections to Education Boards should be on the Parlia--mentary franchise. A bettor method of keeping accounts was suggested, and inspectors wore to bo brought in closer touch with the Department. There was too great multiplicity of examinations. It was proposed to adopt a Dominion system of grading teachers. Bettor results would be obtained if the Department could get in touch with the inspectors with regard to the syllabus. The inspectors conld also act as independent judges as to tho necessity for new schools. It was also proposed to make more effective provision for medical inspection of school children. Subsidies would be paid at the rate of £ for £ on all cash contributions, and 10s in the £ on all donations of land or material. An increase in capitation to school committees was proposed, and an increase was suggested for secondary schools, provided that a, proportional increase was made in teachers’ salaries. It was proposed to reduce the grades from ten to seven, and to increase the salaries. An increase was also proposed in house allowance. Tho maximum salary to be paid to a head teacher would be £440.

Chief inspectors would bo appointed. There would not bo more than fire, and not loss than two.’ The maximum salary paid to inspectors would be £650. Provision would ho made for the appointment of assistant-inspectors at £365 per annum. It was proposed,to pay by way of increased capitation _to secondary schools £7OOO, to education boards £IO,OOO, and the total increased expenditure on education under the Acts of 1908 and 1913, and this Bill, when in full operation would be £160,000.

The Minister paid a tribute to the invaluable work of the officials in preparing the measure. Mr. Russell said that the Bill was largely the result of the Royal Commission set up by the Mackenzie Government. He was pleased to see that wo were now embarking upon a centralisation education scheme. He urged that there should be a Dominion scale for teachers’ salaries. Ho complimented the Minister upon the compilation of the Bill.

Mr. Hauan was glad to seo a national system of grading teachers. A 'teacher would now have a wider field for advancement. Benefit would como from the centralisation of inspectors. Some trouble would arise from the attempt to reduce the number of education boards, but they should look at the matter from a national standpoint. He would vote for the Bill, because it contained progressive proposals. Mr. Davey congratulated the Minister upon the Bill, but urged that provision should be made for scholarships for Catholic schools.

Messrs. Bradney and M’Callum supported the Bill. Mr. Malcolm urged that it would be impossible to give satisfaction unless provision was made to pay teachers irrespective of attendance. '

Mr. Buick congratulated the Minister upon the Bill, but hoped fair concessions would bo made to the Catholics.

The Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Education Committee. FURTHER DETAILS. SALARIES OF INSPECTORS AND TEACHERS. TARANAKI BOARD WIPED OUT. BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, July 16. The-Education Bill, notice of the introduction of which has been given by Mr. James Allen, was circulated this evening. It provides for the appointment of a General Council of Education, constituted as follows:—The Director of Education, who shall be chairman; the Assistant-Director’ of Education, who shall bo chairman in the absence of the Director; on© other officer of the Education Department, appointed by the Minister; two members elected by members of the Education Boards of the North Island and two members elected by the members of the Education Boards in the South Island; one member elected by the certificated male teachers of public schools in the North Island, aud one member elected by the certificated, male teachers of the public schools in the South Island; one member elected by the male teachers in secondary and technical schools; one member elected by certificated women teachers of public schools in the North Island, and one member elected by certificated women teachers of public schools in the South Island; one member elected by the women teachers of secondary and technical schools; one member of the University of New Zealand, appointed by the Senate; and three members appointed by the Minister namely, two to represent industrial’interests (one of whom shall represent agriculture) and one (a woman) to represent the interests of the education of girls. . The council shall meet annually in the month of Juno, and at such other times as the Minister may direct. It shall be the duty of the counci] to report to the Minister: (a) Upon methods or developments in national education which in its opinion it is desirable to introduce into New Zealand; (b) upon anv matters concerning the provision of'facilities for education in Now Zealand or in any district thereof, and upon the co-ordination of the work carried on by the various bodies controlling education; (o) upon any other matters in connection with education referred to it by the Minister, district councils.

The Minister may constitute District Councils for such period as is deemed, fit, . to report-upom-such-unat-

ters relating to education in a- district as he may refer to it. Thb District Council snail consist of five or more members, as follows The Director of Education, or“nny other officer of the Education Department appointed for that purpose by the Minister, who shall be chairman; a. member of the General Council of Education, appointed by the Education Hoard of the district the senior inspector of the district; a member of the General Council, appointed by the Minister to represent the teachers of public schools of the Island in which the district is situated; one or more other persons appointed by the Minister, namely, a representative of an urban school district, or a representative of teachers of secondary and technical .schools, or ,any other person. The Minister shall make such grants for school and class libraries out of the funds apropriated by Parliament therefor as prescribed by regulations. Those grants may include a capitation , payment for every child in yearly average attendance and subsidies on amounts raised in the school district for such libraries.

SCHOOL INSPECTORS. There shall be resident in each education distinct one senior inspector and such other inspectors as the Minister shall direct. The inspectors appointed by the Education Boards Under any former Education Act, and in office at the commencement of this Act shall, notwithstanding anything in the Public Service Act, 1912 ,or in any other Act, bo deemed to be inspectors of the Education Department as if they had been appointed under this Act. Grades and salaries payable to inspectors of schools: —

Annual increment £ls in eaeh esse. Number of inspectors in each, grade. —(a) There shall be not less than two, nor more than five, chief inspectors; (b) there shall be not less than nine, nor more than fifteen, senior inspectors, one of whom shall be resident in each education clistnet; (c) the number of other inspectors shall be as the Governor may see fit; (cl) some of the inspectors shall bo women. TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

In each case the annual increment is £lO. A deduction of 10 per cent, from the salary payable in accordance with the foregoing provisions shall be made in the case of every uncertifioated head or solo teacher, and in the case of every unoertificated assistant, and a deduction of 5 per cent, in the case of every assistant or head or sole teacher who is the holder of a temporary certificate or license to teach, but if in any such case the said deduction would reduce the salary below £IOO per annum no greater deduction shall bo made than is sufficient to reduce the salary to £IOO. EDUCATION. BOARD DISTRICTS. An important part of the Bill is that which deals witfi- the constitution of education boards. The Dominion is divided into nine districts, thus reducing the number of boards from 13 to 9, There will be five districts in the North Island and four in the South Island. The present Auckland Education District has been divided into two districts, which will respectively be designated North Auckland (with headquarters at Auckland) and Waikato (with headquarters at Hamilton). The present districts of Taranaki-and Wanganui will be formed into a combined district, under the nkme of Egmont, with headquarters at Wanganui. The other North Island districts are to be Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. In tho South Island' -the present education district of Marlborough will be added tothe Nelson district. The present districts of Westland and Grey will bo added to the Canterbury district, which will also include practically the whole, of the Canterbury Province. The other districts will be those of Otago and Southland. The rural area of each Education Board District shall be divided by the board into three wards, on the basis of the yearly average attendance, Two members shall be elected for each rural ward. The number of members for each urban area, whether an urban school district or not, shall be twg for each 60,000 or part of 60,000 of the population.

The members for each ward of the rural area and for each urban district, other than an urban school district, shall be elected by the members of the. committees of the school districts within the respective boundaries. Each member of a committee shall have as many votes as there are vacancies to bo filled, but bo shall not give more than one vote to any one candidate. The members for each urban school district shall be elected by the municipal electors of the boroughs comprising such urban school district. The election of those members shall take place at tha same time and place as the election of the councillors of the boroughs within such districts, the votes obtained for each candidate in each borough to bo added. SPECIAL URBAN AREAS. An important alteration is proposed to be made in the constitution of school districts in urban areas. Boards shall have power to alter the limits of any school district and to divide any such district into two or more districts, or to combine two or more districts, and may combine all the school districts within any city or borough into one district, provided that every school district shall be wholly within or wholly, without an urban area, and that tho number of schools (not being side schools) in any district other than an urban school district shall not be more than five.

For every school district there shall ho a committee consisting; of not less than five nor more than nine resident householders. Where the yearly average attendance at the school or schools in the school district for the preceding year has not exceeded 100 children, the number of members of the committee shall be five; where snch attendance is over 100 and not over 200, the number of members sha 1 ! be nine. In urban school districts there shall be-nino members of

the committee i» all cases. The committees of urba«s school districts- shall hold office for two years, in other cases the term shall ho one year. OE THE BILL'. . There was a general chorus of commendation from, both sides of the House when Mr. Allen, had concluded bis explanation of tb* Education Bill. Apparently boththa Minister and the Department have put a great deal of work into the measure, and if it passes in anything like its present form there will undoubtedly be a vast improvement in our present system -of national education. NEW EGMONT DISTRICT. In Mr. Alloa’s Bill the Education District of Egmont is defined as follows;—All that area in Now Zealand being the counties of Taranaki, Clifton, Stratford, Whangamomona, Egmont, Kaitekei, Eltham, Waimate West, Hawera, Patea, Waitotara, Wanganui, Waimarino, Rangitikoi, Oroua, Katrangi, Kiwitea, Pohangiaa and Manawatu (including all boroughs and town districts therein). The chief town will bo Wanganui.

Minimum Maximum Grade. salary. salary. Chief Inspector .. 565 625 Senior Inspector 490 550 Inspector 440 485 Assistant Inspect© r 365 425

The grades of head teachers are Grade. 1 salaries payable to scheduled as follows: Minimum Maximum £ £ ion ' 140 2 M0 190 3 200 250 4 260 310 3‘->0 3G0 Q 400 7 : no 440 Salaries payable to assistants-.— Grade. Minimum Maximum £ £ 1 „... 100 120 2 ..... 120" 140 3. 150 180 4. „.... 190 220 5. 230 250 6. '260 280 7 „ 290 310