VALUABLE SCHOLASTIC RECOMMENDATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3519, 8 January 1886, Page 3

VALUABLE SCHOLASTIC RECOMMENDATION.

[By Telegraph.] Dunbdin, Jan. 7. The Committee of tho Educational Institute report re school age, that th ugh raising the age of admission to six or seven years will effect a saving of about £20.000 a year, it would have the effect of cloning schools in outlying districts, or establishing aided schools, as to which thero can be no guarantee that the teachers will be competent or efficient ; that to allow children to go without regular achool inatruction till seven wi 1 be highly detrimental therefore tho Institute is decidedly against the raining of age. 'he Committee re pupil teacher system recommend that the syllabus of subjects for examination 'e uniform throughout the col ny ; the examination to be conducted by a central department, and that before admission to a Normal School it is desirable that the engagement be for five years. The following resolution was carried : — " That the largo number of pupil teachers employed in some provincial districts is a decided disadvantage, and ought to be reduced." The Scholarships Committee recommended existing arrangements should give place to an approximately uniform system for the whole colony ; that by approximately is meant uniformity a> regards age, aubjects, examination, relative value of subjects, and length of tenure ; thnt the system should be such as to bring scholar* into secondary schools at the age at which a secondary course can be commenced under favorable conditions and enable the best to continue their attendance until they qualify for University scholarships ; that a satisfactory system might be developed in the following lines— Scholarships to be seven. Junior candidates for the former to be confined to work of the fifth standard, and the period covered to be two years. Seniors to be under 16, and secondary subjects to hold a prominent place in the examination, and the period covered to be three years ; special provision to be made for scholars residing away from home. All holders of senior scholarships to matriculate at the end of the tenure of scholarships. It was also recommended that drawing should be made, a pass aubject along with writing.