EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 4

EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.

PROPOSALS OF FARMERS. Various remits in connexion with, the education' system .of the Dominion have been set down for discussion at the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, to .he held in Wellington at the end of the month. The proposals- of the Educational Institute have prompted the Taranaki Union to forward the following remit: —"That this conference is in full syin<pathy with the efforts of the .Educational Institute in, trying to effect improvements in our educational system. The conference fully recognises the value of the teaching profession, as trainers of the manhood and womanhood of the nation, considering it to be by far the most important branch of the Civil-Service of the country, and is of opinion that, in order to produce the desired improvements in our educational system, special attention should be paid to the following points in order named: — . "(a) The development of the characters of the children on right lines. The first essential towards this is the securing of the right class of teachers which, in"our opinion, must be brought about by improving the status and general conditions, including - remuneration, under which teachers are at present expected to work. "(b) The training of the bodies under thoroughly hygienic conditions, and the training of the brain. • "That this conference strongly urges the Government not only to resist all attempts to encroach upon the national system of education, but also without delay to make provision for improvements and extensions necessary to enable the nation successfully to cope with after-war conditions," is the wording of a remit received from Otago. As a sound step towards nationnl efficiency, the Wellington and Southland branches recommend that the Minister of Education be urged to carry through a 10 per cent, increase of teachers' salaries. The following remit suggesting that instruction in book-keeping should be given in the primary schools has been received from Auckland:—"That", in the opinion of this conference, the time hns now arrived when the sixth standard in our primary schools should be taught bookkeeping, particularly as the law now provides that farmers shall i keep books and submit their income ac- , counts to the Department, and that the 6vllnbns be revised so that the child shall be better fitted for its future occupation than it is at present."