EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12600, 14 September 1905, Page 8

EDUCATION CONFERENCE

; --~..v. Per Press Association. WELfcIRGTON, September 13. The Education Conference resolved that tho attention of the. Minister of Education be called to the difficulty of obtaining suitable teachers for small -country schoolW; tho need for fixing tho minimum salary for teachers of schools under 15 average attendance, and the need for providing a more liberal grant for the conveyance of children to and from schools; also that in the case of small groups of children in isolated places boards be authorised by law to make the best arrangements they can in the direction of conveying such y. children to suitable schools in the vicinity. ,'. ":T[ ;' . •■...._ On tho motion of Mr. Pirani (Wanganui), it was resolved that- section 57 of the Education Act be amended to provide for tho transfer or exchange of teachers when such a course is considered necessary in the interests of the schools affected. Mr. Westall (Hawke's Bay) moved, and Mr. McDonald (Wellington),-second-ed, that it is desirable that the payment on tho average attendance be abolished and a fixed salary substituted. Mr. Gray (Waaganui) suggested that a better motion Would bo that in estimating the salary of a teacher, the chief determining factors should be efficiency in literary qualifications, length of service, and average attendance, and that tho average attendance should be *a small consideration in tho matter. It was decided, after a short discussion, that Mr. Westall's motion should be allowed to give place to Mr. Gray's suggestion, and the latter become the substantive motion. Tho Inspector-General explained the provisions of, the amending Bill now before Parliament. He pointed out that if it was admitted to be necessary to classify teachers it Avo;:ld also be necessary to classify schools. The question of inspection was one which required consideration. To say that efficiency should bo ?. mark for determin- . ing whether or not there should be an increase of salary was something he would bo loth to do, and he thought it world not bring about real justice. It seemed to him tho best way was that put forward in the Bill. The salary wag fixed -within the "grade, 1' and in no cast» was the salary named less than it was before £h»re was any capitation increment. Tho payment would have to be 'according to tBo size of the school, and tho staff, could be adjusted to the average attendance, which would be necessary in determining the size of the school. As to tho matter of the employment of teachers in back blocks, tho question was how much was going to bo paid for the education of a child, and that was a question of policy which ho could not discuss. Mr. Gray, with tho consent of the

Conference, withdrew his motion pro Mr. McDonald (Wellington) moved— "That in tho opinion of this Conference a separate fund should be created for the rebuilding of worn-out school buildings." These buildings, 'ho said, vero no longer fit for practical use. At present tho Government did not,.allow School Boards anything for school buildings over thirty-six years of age, which might bo destroyed by fire. Mr. Westall seconded tho motion, and remarked that tho Department now voted tho School Boards £2852 in respect of tho old school buildings, Mi'.'McDonald, with consent, altered his motion to read, "That in tho opinion cf this Conference the Department should create a separate fund for the purposo of rebuilding worn-out school buildings." This was rejected by 16 to 6. Mr. McDonald moved that in view of tho rapidly increasing land values of the colony, this Conference recommends the Government to secure land for sites . for new' schools in all districts where new schools are likely to be.required.— Negatived on the voices. Tho Rev. Dr. Barkley (South Canterbury) moved, and Mr. Howell (South Canterbury) seconded, "That when the average attendance has reached, any .figures from thirty-five to forty (both inclusive), maintained for six months consecutively, that Boards be authorised (it deemed expedient) to introduce into tho staff a pupil teacher or assistant, the Board subsequently, when justified by the attendance, to adjust tho staff to the Lepartment's scale of -staff salaries." -^-Negatived on the voices. ■ . . '. . ■