EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12755, 26 September 1919, Page 10

EDUCATION.

SOME NEW PROPOSALS. i CONFERENCE OF BOARDS. I I ip [Pee Press Association.] |C ' b WELLINGTON. September 2-3. ! 3 At the Dominion Conference of Education Boards to-day the question of L unity of control of the various branches p of education by one administrative a body, to be set up in each district, was T brought up by Mr G. I'. London (Wei- c lington), who moved—"That,, in view j i of the important part education most j r necessarily take in post-war reconstruc- i r tiou and restoration, it is essential that j v tiie curricula of the, various educational j units of the Dominion-university, sc- j t condary, technical and primary—should i t be co-ordinated and placed under one ! centroid’ j s The motion-nvns carried unanimously, j i The Auckland delegate moved—- “ That the conference requests the t Council of Education to consider who- i I her the result of our education system < is. in a- satisfactory degree, a thought- ' fu(, industrious and reverent child, and s if not to suggest, the remedy.” < -dr Pnrtho (Auckland) said the quea. i fion was of supreme importance to tho ■: people of New Zealand. Ho suggested 1 a conference between the Director and 1 Assistant Director of Education and in- ! > speotors and heads of the various edu- J national institutions, hut tho general opmtoii of the conference was that the matter was one into which, the Council of Education should inquire. The Conference passed the followpassed the following resolution traanting resolution unanimously:—“ That while protesting . against the establishment of private schools, yet, if private schools are to be allowed, the authorities connected with the proposed school notify the Education Board of the district of their intention to establish a. school, and submit to the board information regarding (1) the buildings in which it is proposed to hold the school and the accommodation provided thereby; (2) the syllabus of instruction proposed to be followed; (3) the qualifications of each member of the teaching staff; (4 ) and that tho salaries paid shall bo on the scale provided in the Education Act (with the exception of schools conducted by members of religious orders).” A recommendation was tabled that representations be made that teachers be paid on the basis of efficiency. In support of the r*rait ib was pointed out that tho only way to secure the best men for tho profession was to pay them salaries commensurate with their ability’. In opposition to the proposal stress was laid bv several speakers on the difficulty under the present system of determining teachers’ relative efficiency. The remit was carried on a division by a large majority. 1 Among other remits carried were the following:—“ That the Government be urged to purify and elevate the standard of moving picture entertainments by r equipping in each principal centre one picture theatre for the free display of educational and instructional films i lor school children.” 1 " That the four-mile limit for now . schools has not worked satisfactorily, ! nnd Uuit the Government be therefore j urged to amend this clause of the Act I ] n order that undue hardship be not ; placed on struggling settlors in disj tricts badly loaded and difficult of j access.” j ‘That the Education Department >! provide the cost of secondary or : ; vocational education lor children of 1 teachere located in isolated districts ; : affording no facilities for such education.’ j w That the maximum number of I children under one teacher be forty on the roll, except, in the case of solo teachers scholars, where the maximum number should be thirty-five.” | Hint in all calculations for staTj 2nd salaries. t<be average weekly roll bo substituted for tho average attendance.” J hat, in order to encourage high proicsMoua! attainment, tho Uni versa t\ of iSow Zealand include education as a ; subject for honours.” j .^ K ' conference adopted various rel TT ?. lts rclaUve to providing, in tho case |of new primary schools, 'sites of four acres lor town schools and five acres j tor country schools: urging that the present maintenance grant is entirely inadequate; suggesting that tho question of providing teachers’ residences m country districts be considered; and i generally traversing the system of departmental grants with a view to its revision. A remit was carried recommending that, m each school of Grade 4 and iinn i e > dd , cd to for,u Education Boards Association, and Mr T ! fS'*-’ < t air “ an of the Wellington •Lx nation Board, was elected first president. Jhc executive is to compriseone member from each Eduction { Board district. Mr G* L. Stewart ii S fnn°T> r7 th ° Wol lington Educa--1 lion Boaid, was appointed secretary', i , U ’ :|S revived to meet anmiallv, and I during t-!k? session of Parliament; the j first conference to be held at Welline--1 ton. hj