EDUCATION REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 323, 9 October 1908, Page 4

EDUCATION REFORM.

' the minister. Congratulated. The following-letteE/i'dated yesterday, has been addressed «to...the Minister for Education, tlio/Hon:' 1 G. Powlds, by tho secretary of : the^'New-^Zealaiid' : Educational Institutbf:— I'j.o.Oi'i'iJ.U .si i'U^lSiry t£T li'avo. great' pleasure, on behalf of" the' executive' - ;' and members of. the Sfew- Zealand Educational Institute, in ••convoying,'to 'you their sincere congratulations: tin. the passing of tho Education • ~.-4ctT^Ui)endmen.t,/ ;A otJ 1908. My insti-. feels Jhjfctbfi'o -arc in this Act it the channel of 2 one, lofe.the njost--.important educational :reforms" : in tlio history of education in. J this"Dominion. Tho*. gradual ' substitution of fully.equipped 'certificated teachers in lieu of ''.\pupil r .;te'afchers;'tho increase in staffs tAmod: ;,tha , ( consequent diminution in tho •, number of per class are move- ' <■';meiita "ili'at riilist"ferid to the direction • ,„ vr pf...great.e^ r efß.ciency .in our schools. Tho iJv^SSafjS&il l ?f .teachers, and tho 'recognition of "the principle of annual ,v.JnKemauts-.'°t«salai;y™render tho position. ■■ of--the" teacher-moro satisfactory, and my institute desires particularly to record,.. -in... this connection, its gratifica- ..' •■'tion at the fact that the teachers of- tho , Jow.er, grades of schools aro now to re-; r ' remuneration for ..tlio important-and'arduous services they' li.tfgad'G'H'fo tho "State. • '--.While'-., tho Scale of salaries is ,still" --based on the .jivorage number of pupils If,in v attendance r at a; school, my institute cfeels tljat,..- with the help of the greatly of transfer of teachers! ;-' 'jno.w , yest-ed in education boards, as-.' sisted by the comprehensive Depart-, -mental -regulations- at present in force, 0110 of tho anpmalies of the education'.' u -service in tho, past—namely, reduction ; a iteafchor's.'salary owing to a fall in 5 - 'averages attendance, has been practically. , r ■romqyea.'vij • -these reasons, amongst others, v « institute feels that the new Educa-" '■tion^-Act. ?is a statesmanlike measure, i jbased* oii', a complete knowledgo of th®-'. , .educational requirements of tho State/, jaiulv'a-'.'real -sympathy for the welfare of ', vtlfochildroii'., ajcl. .tonchcrs. in our public; 'schools.. *;Tho 'institute accordingly, con- ; gratulates you, as Minister for Educa"tiph,'voir tho. passing of this measure, ... and expresses its. gratitude for the con- 'i uniformly" .shown'-?.'r '■the teachers of. the Dominion.—r&ja,.:' - ~ v . - . -WILLIAM ..FOSTER,"' ■ ! • ' Secretary"N.-Z.E.I.': ;