COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18406, 12 June 1925, Page 2

COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

(PRESS ASSOCIATIOK raLEOHIM.)

WELLINGTON, June 10. The annual meeting of the General Council of Education opened to-day. Mr John Caughley, Director of Education, in opening the conference, said ,a number of the recommendations of the Council made at the last annual meeting had been given effect to during the past year. A number of openair, schools was now in operation, and the question of sex hygiene had been considered by a Commission, whose report was before- the Government. No action had yet been taken regarding the payment of secondary school teachers by the Education Department. He did not know any reason why the matter should Hot ]be taken up definitely. As to agricultural instruction, the resolutions of the Council had been put before a Commission which sat recently, and a report was now almost ready. /A report on defective children had been published, arid was being considered by the Department chiefly concerned... it was hoped very soon that effect would be giveu to the Commission's recommendations by the setting up of a Board to carry out what was suggested. The question of dealing with the staffs and salaries of secondary and technical schools, with a view of bringing about some degree of uniformity, was under consideration. The varying principles between the two scales presented almost insuperable difficulties, and ho had not been able to solve the problem. Committees were then set up to report on various notices of motion. June 11.

At the Council of Education to-day the following resolutions were carried:

That it be a recommendation to the Department to promote legislation providing: (a) Iff proportion to' size of the Education District an increase in the amount to be allowed to Education Boards as unauthorised expenditure; (b) an honorarium for the chairman of Education Boards...'

That the attontion of the Department be drawn to the disorganisation often caused through' teachers declining appointments after having been selected, and that it be asked-'to issue regulations to deal with the matter. Subsequently the resolution was added to by the words: "A successful applicant who declines .to accept. the. same .shall be regarded as having forfeited his right to promotion for a period of twelve months, unless in the opinion of ,the Board his actions have been .iiistified.''

That in the opinion of the Couneil all junior, scholarship holders.should be given an opportunity' of attending a fully-equipped secondary school or technical high school, with boarding allowance if scholars are obliged to live away from'home, the parent guarantees that the pupil will stay at least three years. That the Department should authorise" a grant to post-primary school libraries, the financial assistance to be based partly on the average attendance of schools.

Tha't the committee affirms the desirability of every post-primary school being furnished with.a good reference library. '': ".