EDUCATION AIMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 21 May 1910, Page 13

EDUCATION AIMS.

THE HIGH SCHOOLS. TEACHERS IN CONFERENCE. VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED The biennial conferonoe of delegates from tho secondary schools of* New Zealand was continued on Thursday, at tho Girls' High School, tho president [Mr. J. P. Firth) in tho chair. There Pas a full attendance of delegates. Tho Inspector-General of Schools (Mn Gco. Eogben) and the Assistant InspectorGoneral (Dr. Anderson) were also prefarat. Acting upon the suggestion of the chairman, that all the speakors should be as brief as possible, a great quantity of business was got through m quick time, soveral of the motions being passed practically without discussion, whilo in no caso was there any protracted debate. The proceedings wcro opened with the reading of an interesting and comprehensive review of tho general aspects of secondary education in New Zealand end elsewhere, by Mr. H. J* D. Mahon. The Bpeaker discussed some of tho disadvantages which hampered the progress cf those institutions, and drew attention to -tho fact that tho salaries and general prospects of male or femalo assistants m too Government District High Schools jras materially superior to thoEo onjoyed by the assistants in the private end somi-public institutions. An interesting discussion, which . generally supported the . contentions raised by tho speaker, followed upon his motion: —"That the amount available por head for secondary education in New Zealand, schools is inadequate Cor rational and efficient secondary education." Tho motion was carried. Mr. Morrell also submitted proposals for the improvement of tho. condition of secondary education, in the following (notions :— "That for tho effectual raising of tho level of secondary education in New Zealand there is urgent need for an increase in tho proportion of toachors to pupils in secondary schools, and that the number of assistants should bo not fowef than one for evory 26 pupils on !tbe Eohool roll." "That the expediting of the .progress iof tho quicker pupils from the primary BchoolSjwhethor by grouping Standard V to VI in tho larger towns into Central schools, where they may be . -graded according to ability) or by crafting them into tho secondary schools et a Bomewhat earlier age." Both were adopted, after brief diaCnssion. EXAMINATION PAPERS. SCIENCE SUBJECTS. Mr. Mahon then moved:— "That in ther Junior University Scholarship ecience papers it should not be posaiblo to obtain more than 35 per cent.l of full marks by working numerical examples, and some questions should bo Eet requiring each knowledge as can ' be obtained only bjr individual work in the laboratory;"

The Inspeotor-General (Mr. Q, Hogten) said that the only satisfactory jnethod' of thoroughly assoesing the xpialifications of the candidates in i science Bttbjeete was to obtain practical and reliable proof that these oandiiSates bad covered the course in practical work. Modern texts books freely jflustroted the laboratory experiments described in the text. It was quite possible for a candidate who had never, joone laboratory practice to give ovijdence, from his answers, that he had. ]k certifi.cato from the headmaster) supjxjilulg the candidate's contention that lie had covered the laboratory work,, roonld meet the case, hethonght. Ibo proaidelit agreed. After further discussion, the motion Bras" carried. On the motion of Mr. H. J. D. it was agreed, after a brief (discussion!

"That pup or two questions from fjfche syllabus for elementary physical measurements, should be included in |the university papers in chemistry, and 5n all physical subjects." It was also resolved, on tiw motion pi Mr. T. D. Pearce; } "That. the time for the Arithmetic paper, both in the Senior Free Place end in the Junior CM Service examination is too short, and should •, be raised from two to three hours." SCHOOLS AND THE UNtVERSITY. JMATRTfmT.ATTnTJ EXAMINATION. Ihe following motion, by the Bev. & H.. Moreland, waa adopted by the <Ouiiference "That it is desirable, in order to secure effective co-operation between the university and the secondary schools, and to further the progress of Becondmy education, that this conference ihouH have a representative member on the Senate of the tfniversitv; and, Hiat the Minister for Education be approached in order to ascertain the iiest means by which effect can be given to the wish of the conference." On the motion of Mr. Laing (Chriatabnrch), the conference resolved: "That it be a recommendation to the Benate of the New Zealand University to revise the programmes of work in physical and chemical science for the entrance examinations, in the direction of making the higher work of the secondary schools in these subjects continuous with the work of the first two years, as prescribed by the examination for Benior free places."

In tie oourso of hia remarks, Mr. Laing observed that although chemistry had altered so much in twenty years, there had teen no change, in the syl■labus during this time.

A motion by the Kev. C. H. MorIsnd, which sought to have affirmed the desirableness of substituting, optionally, a four years' courso, certificate from the principal of a secondary college as a qualification for entrance to the university, in lieu of the Matriculation examination pass, was rejected by a narrow margin of votes.

The main objections raised to tho proposal were based on tho contention that the success or.failure of such a course was largely governed by the personal equation. "All men do not think alike," said on of tho opponents of the motion, "and tho result would be that various standards of efficiency would bo created." ' school boarders: The conference discussed the unsuitebility of country students', boarding arrangements in the cities, tho general opinion being that this was duo to tho parents being unwilling to pay tho whole boarding allowance. The following resolutions were adopted, upon Hiss MncLean's motion: — "(a) That it bo a recommendation to the Board of Education that holders of Education Board scholarships should attend the recognised school boardinghouses when such exist, or at houses approved by tho principals of secondary schools; "(b) That it is advisable that the scholarships where boarding is necessary should bo of tho full value of £40," RENAMING OF GLASSES. Tho committco appointed to consider tho renaming of classes in secondary schools recommended:— (1) That the forms of the lower department bo indicated by the numbers

I aud II; that tJio forms comprisiM;; pupils of tlio standard of holders of junior free places in their first year bo denominated by tho numeral 111, in their second year by IV, "in their third year V, and in their fourth and subsequent years VI. (2). That Bubdivisional forms bo indicated by letters of the alphabet. A standing for tho highest division, or by significant names; (3) That tho term "remove,"]'!: used, to denote a class of lower grade than that denoted by the number associated with it.

The report was adopted. RHODES SCHOLARS. Mr. J. W. Tibbes (Auckland) moved: "That a conunitleo be appointed to coneidor during tho recess the present method of selecting Rhodes Scholars, and to collect information about tlio methods adopted elsewhere, and to report to next meeting of the conference, the cominitteo to consist of tho president and Messrs. Bevaji-Brown, Moreland, Dove, Morrell, and the mover." 'Die motion was adopted without discussion. DOMESTIC SCIENCE. Miss Marchant (Dunedin) moved:— "That it is desirable that domestic science should form part of every girls' education; but it is not desirable that this work ehould bo undertaken Until fully-qualified teachers '■ could be obtained." Some opposition being offered to that part of the motion referring to "qualified teachers," it being pointed out that many were at present teaching tho principles of hygiene, and what was described as domestic economy, the words wore withdrawn, and the motion as amended was passed. TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION. Superannuation matters : wore dta cussed upon a series of motione being introduced from the Secondary Schools Assistants' Association by Mr. H. J. D. Mahon (Auckland). These resolutions, which were . accepted without amendment, requested the Superannuation Board to give a definite ruling whethor tho past' and present teachers at such schools as Christ's Collego, Christchurch, and Wanganui Collegiate School should nob be elegible for membership j that the Minister for Education be requested to amend the Act by embodying the principle that tho pension bo computed on the highest salary rccoived during any threo consecutive years, instead of tho last three years of sen-ice; that tho Minister's attention be drawn to the anomaly which prevents a teacher in. service before the passing of the Act from coniiii" Under its provisions unless appointed to a new position; that secondary schoolteachers bo allowed to retire at an earlier ago than after 40 years , service, and that they be given the advantage of the Court of Appeal Act.

MINISTER' TO BE INTERVIEWED. The following standing committee was constituted for the ensuing term: —The president (Mr. J. P, Firth), Miss M. M'Loan, Miss Gibson, Messrs. BevanBrown, Morrell, Tibbs, Simmers, and tho secretary (Mr. Walton). It was agreed that the members of the Standing Committee interview tho Minister for Education (the Hon. G. Fowlds) on Saturday morning with reference to various matters arising out of tho conference.

It was resolvod that the next conforenco should be held at Chriatehuroh, at a date to be decided upon by the Standing Committee. In formally closing the conference, the president moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to tho InspectorGeneral and tho Assistant' InspectorGeneral for their'attendance l l'and advice at tho conference.,,-The motion wae carried by acclamation;' ■'>'■''- ■*- ■ Votes of thanks to the chair, tho' secretary, and Miss. M'Lean concluded the business, - and tho conference adjourned at 6 p.m.