EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15870, 9 April 1917, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

MEETING OP DOMINION

EXECCTIYE

A meeting- of tho executive o. the Zealand Educational Institute was held in Christchurch on Saturday, when " number of matters cf interest to teachers ar.d to those connected with education *® cussed. There were present— Mr 1. L. de Berry (Hokitika, president). His® (Thuiedin), Masara A. X. Burns (Lower Hurt, Wellington, vice-presidcr.t), W. D*vidson (Dunedin), W. H. Xewton (Thames), R. L. Xlcllroy (Xew I'lvmoiith), E. l r . Just (treasurer), and H. A. Parkinson Two cufiea v.ere discussed arising out of the action of education boards jn respect o. the appointment oi U.ach?r3. Tho circumstances, as laid before the executive, indicated that the boards concerned had ahotni a disposition not to comply with tho provisions of the Act, in that- thoy were retaining the services oi two uncertificated ieachera in positions which ahuuld Us tilled by certificated teachers and for which positions certificated teachers wero available One caso originated in the Marlborough district, but was now before the Wellington Board; the other case referred to a position ou the W««i of tho South Isiuiid. Though it was not considered that either case was a matter of firat importance, it v.'ao felt that action waa necessary and that 6teps should bo taken to uphold tho principle that boards must comply with the requirements of the Act. A certain coursc of action was decided upon which might lead to legal proceedings, but it hoped that these would not be nececaary. Tho question of the abolition of education districts and boards, which was before tho annual meeting of tho Institute, wnj further discussed. Tho Institute's policy on this subject is that the administrative machinery oi education should be centred in a National Board and the powers of school committees increased or their funcuor.6 discharged by existing local authorities —such as city, borough, or county councils. It is hold that tho present division of the Dominion into education districts, administered by education boards, hampers the development of national education owing to the limited powers and scope of the boards. It i.i further argued that primary, secondary, and technical education, instead of boin;; administered by separate boards, should be controlled by one body, so that a properly correlated eystom could he> designed und the present overlapping' and excessive expenditure on administrative m*j/ili.ircry remedied. A sub-committefl was set up to prepare a statement giving tho Institute's reasons for its- recommendations that the present education districts should bs abolished and that the administrative machinery of education should bo centred in one National Board. The executive also considered a resolution from tho Wellington Branch of the Institute strongly opposing l tho proposals contained in the report of the Council of Education referring to tho education of girls. .The Wellington Branch submitted that if the Council's proposals wero given effect to it would lead to division, wherever possible, of the present By stem of joint schools into separate schools for boys and for girls. It was contended that this would bo an educational, as well as a national, calamity. Tho executive was asked to take uctivo steps to prevent effect being given to tho measures contemplated in the Council's report in this matter. It was decided, in view of tho magnitude of the question, that the matter should be Telegated to the brancfocs for their consideration, eo that it could be brought up for discussion at the annual meeting of the Institute. The executive had before it a communication from tho Council of State Services Associations relating to daylight saving, the cost of living, and the establishment of cooperative stores. It was dccided to remit theso matters to tho branches for their consideration, the executive refraining from expressing any opinion upon them, or deciding on any other action.