EDUCATIONAL REFORM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16115, 25 April 1918, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL REFORM.

SOME STRONG REMARKS. AT THE EDUCATION BOARD. At the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday, circulars were received from the. Teachers’ Institute asking the board to .support its endeavours to obtain ; Better buildings, both primary and technical (and larger playgrounds) ; more inspectors; medical inspection; free dental treatment for school children; compulsory continuation classes; additional staffing to give smaller classes ; better remuneration for pupil - teachers, probationers, and training college students. The Chairman oT the board (Mr. R. Masters) said the institute was initiating a forward move in the interests of improving the educational system of New Zealand, and if the hoard could co-operate with the institute in obtaining the desired improvements then it should do so. Improvements had been made during the past few years, but further improvements were necessary, lie would oonfe-ss that he was astounded to find that the teachers in this district were, teaching so many large classes. The average number for New Zealand oT pupils taught by one teacher in Grade 0 and I. schools was 10; Grade 11., 23.2; Grade Ilia., 38.7; Grade IV. and over, 46.9. He went closely into one school in the board’s own district and the number of pupils in any one class was out of all resaon. In Primer I. there were 70 children, and two pupil-teachers; Primer 11., 51 children, one pupil-teacher; Primer 111., 78 children, one teacher; making 200 children taught by one teacher and three pupil teachers. In Standards 1 and 2 there were 128 pupils taught by a teacher and two pupil-teachers; Standard 3, 68 children, one teacher; Standard 4, 63 children, one teacher; Standard 5, 99 children, two teachers; Standard 6, 65 children, one teacher and one probationer. Ho thought the board would agree that the classes were far too large for the number of teachers. The same thing obtained in other schools. Tho average pupils per teacher was 62.2, or 16 above the average for the whole of the Dominion. In England the average was 32.8; New York State, 26.4; United States, 25.2. The teachers here certainly had ground for complaint, for under such conditions it was impossible for them to do justice to their positions. The system of medical inspection of children now in vogue had brought about an immense amount of good, but it seemed to him to stop just whore it should start. Any weakness which the teachers saw were reported to the medical officer, and if the medical officer found the position as notified by the teacher, a notice was sent to the. parents. While many parents took notice of what the medical officer said, many did not and many could not. The department, said tho chairman, did not go far enough; it should, where necessary, force children to be medically attended. He knew cases whore children had been reported on but nothing at all had been done. Then, as regards sub-normal children, there was one child in this district who had been reported on by tho teacher, medical officer, and tho Minister of Education three years ago, yet that child was still at the school, learning nothing, doing nothing and a hindrance to tho teacher. He quite admitted that a lot of good was done by physical instruction as a result of the medical inspection. Another matter was the demand for increased playground ; even in tho board’s own district there were some very small playgrounds ; if the Central School, for instance, had all it was entitled to the ground would bo ten times its present size. At Tataraimaka the .school, school residence, and horse paddock were included in the one acre, and the department only recently, when approached, granted sufficient money for the purchase of another acre. With respect to tho need for an increased number of inspectors, the Chairman instanced the conditions under which the inspectors had to work before the. adjustment of the districts. Now, in spite, of the increased Taranaki district, the- number of inspectors was the same; in fact, the department had to be forced to appoint an additional temporary inspector, for the reason that the present inspectors were unable to cope with the work, and the senior inspector broke down in health It was most unjust to ask the inspectors to go on under such conditions. In conclusion, the Chairman said he agreed bvith the principle of free dental treatment for those children whose parents were not able to pay. The Education Board should assist the Teachers’ Institute to try to improve the educational facilities of the Dominion. Ho moved: That while the hoard recognises the reforms that have been effected in recent years, and notwithstanding the difficulties presented by war conditions, and in view of the importance of educational reform and progress, the education boards be asked to co-operate with tho Taranaki Education Institute in urgent representations being made to the Prime, Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Education, urging the necessity of making provision without delay for the improvement and extension of the educational -system of tho Dominion. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., in seconding the motion, -said he felt that the educational system of the Dominion was falling behind the times; it should be progressive and go-ahead. Tho department advanced the excuse that it was short of money. He was quite sure, however, that tho members of Parliament would vote any money necessary for carrying on education, and for putting up good buildings and paying better salaries so that the classes could be bandied in a -satisfactory manner. Referring to sub-normal children, the speaker said there was an institution in the South Island, hut it never seemed to bo able to take the children who should bo sent there. Mr. E. Dixon said the time had come when the Government had got to consider very seriously tho payment of male teachers in the profession. It was a common thing for splendid men entering the teaching profession to leave afte- a few years and take up law or some other profession. There was an increasing number of lady teachers, and less men. Tho very best brains of the country wore wanted for the teaching profession. Tho Chairman agreed with Mr. Dixon, and added that owing to the meagre salary offered boys were not looking to the teaching profession as an occupation. In 1916, out of 41 pupilteachers, six were males; in 1917, out of 44 pnpil-teachers. four were males; and in 1918, out of 48 pupil-teachers, there were two males, one of whom re-

fused the appointment. Future teachers would nil bo females unless higher -salaries were granted. At present a probationer got £3O for tho first year and £35 for the second. A pupilteachor got £135 for tho first year, £45 for the second- and £55 for the third year. Yet other departments were offering boys £7B for the first year. Mr. S. G. Smith aJsg spoke in support of tho motion, saying that if a tithe of the criticism now being levelled at tho Education Department was justified there was need for some drastic reform, although ho recognised that during tho past few years some improvements had been effected. The medical inspection was almost farcical if the department and the boards paid no attention to the need for more modern buildings. He mentioned that two classes at the Franktey Road School were being taught in the gymnasium. Tho motion was carried unanimously.