THE EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13297, 28 May 1907, Page 5

THE EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

INTERCHANGE OF -TEACHERS. . Press Association-Bv Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, May 26. The Conference appointed a co:o.u.iltee of school inspectors to draft a scheme to facilitate interchange of teachers and mutual recognition of certificates. Professor Gurney, Sydney, said the grea-b stumbling block' was the unequal value of certificates in different parts of the Empire. British speakers strongly emphasised the prime necessity for a central bureau in London, supported by the colonies and Britain, charged ' with the task of negotiating for interchange, and the recognition of certificates. Mr F. Tat?, director of Education of Victoria, speaking on behalf of the Australian delegates, said that ihe colonial representatives were looking forward to meeting the leaders of the Home educational departments arid representatives of learned societies. Trie- Conference would make tin- niaii in the!street real's? that the Empire was solving the problem of linking all grades of educational activity into a worthy organisation. The national' taxpayer should realise his share of the work, since education was no longer a private but a national affair. Ho described the progress of the educational systems of Australia. Among those attending the Conference ere Mi' George Hogben, and Professor Macmillan Brown, of New Zealand. PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE. The Conference will discuss the following:— ! Business Subjects. .Scheme proposed by the League of the Empire- for federation of the Empire in education. Official 'recognition of. a, common central office for federal education. Future federal education conferences, (a) Suggested places of meeting of heads of departments and other educationists; (b) dates'. Educational Subjects. Teachers. (a) Comparison .of (1) the provisions for the supply and the training of elementary teachers, and of (2) the conditions of their work in the United Kingdom and other countries of the Empire and Crown colonics; (b) similar comparison in the case, of secondary teachers; • (e) J practicability of temporary interchange of : teachers and of inspectors between the United Kingdom and other countries of the Empire and Crown colonies. The relations between secondary and primary schools in the various countries of the Empire. Means of establishing a system of mutual recognition of equivalent standards of attainment in the several countries of the -Empire in connection with primary, secondary, and university education. Co-operation iu educational publications. in.) Scheme of the League of the Empire for Imperial text books in history; (b) means for ensuring correctness in text books dealing with geography, or in which local lmowledge is required. Co-operation in school work. (a) The fennation. of a central exhibition of industrial or other school work: ib) the organisation of the exchange of school work and specimens between departments, museums, and between individual schools on a permanent basis. i School Subjects. The English language—Reading (literature), composition, pronpunciarion, geography in its relations to history/, discovery and commerce, the growth of the 'Empire (illustrated by lantern slides and other means): encouragement of nature study. Education of non-British'.races. Comparison of ideals, methods, and standard's in various parts of the Empire. Other subjects which may be discussed if tim> allows: Cadet- corps and military training; educational facilities in sparselypopulated districts; -educational treatment of Poor Law and reformatory children; civic and moral education': metric system of weights and measures-; school gardens.