THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1114, 29 April 1911, Page 10

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY REVIEW. NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY, Teachers and others interested in the administration of education arc invited to . contribute notes for publication in "Tho School World." These should bo addressed to the Editor, "Tho School World," The Dominion, Wellington, and posted to reach this office not later than Wednesday in each week. Correspondents desirinc enlightenment upon any question in connection with i tho school work, or the Kcriernl administration of the education system, arc invited to submit these points to tho Editor for elucidation and Teply. Wliero anonymity is desired, it will be strictly observed.

: ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Orlando."—Would be glad of somo further particulars concerning your educational attainments and personal circumstances before advising you. State, for example, what standard you reached before leaving school; what studies, if any, you have- followed up sinco leaving school; whether you could afford to start at tho bottom of the ladder at a first year probationer's salary—if not, what income you consider you could get along with iu a teaching appointment of a temporary character pending such Hme as you could sit for tho qualifying examination for a teacher's certificate. A first year probationer is paid at the rate of .£25 per annum, with an additional lodging allowanceof JJ2O- if required to live away from home. Whether, at tho ago of 22, you could begin de novo depends upon your own circumstances. A temporary appointment in a school would carry a salary of .C9O per annum at tho lowest grade. Will bo glad to further advise you, but you must not omit to endorse further correspondence with your proper name, not tor publication, but as a guarantco of good faith.

"A Chairman."—The School Committee has no jurisdiction in the promotion of pupils from class to class. That'is strictly the teacher's province, where ho is supervised by the inspector, and any intrusion by the committee upon his sphere of authority is ultrn vires. The business of the teacher is to conduct the school with due regard to punctuality, efficiency, and general tone- lie is answerable to tho board's representative; the school inspector, for the state of his school, not to" the committee, though the latter, should it havo good reason, may quite properly report to the inspector, failing a satisfactory explanation from tho teacher upon any aspect of the school work which it may consider to be unsatisfactory, and which it has reason to think may escape the attention of the inspector. In the caso of a complaint from an individual who takes exception to any particular point in tho conduct of tho school, the formal procedure would . be to refer tho matter to tho School Committee,, which in turn would refer it back to the teacher for a report. Should this report be unsatisfactory, tho committee should appeal to tho Education Board—or its inspector—whoso decision is .final. THE SCHOOL ELECTIONS. NOTES FROMTHE ANNUAL s MEETINGS. The event of the week in the school world has been the annual meetings of householders, convened by Statute to receive the annual reports of the retiring committees and electing new committees for tho ensuing year. To attempt anything more than a flying; survey of the main'points noted at tho various meetings 'would be impossible, for reasons of space. Generally speaking, tho proceedings wero quiet, there being no serious contentions ' at issue, though here and there some griov.ance, moro or less : domestic'in character, came to' tho surfaco and excited an animated discussion. The meetings held in Wellington and the suburban schools havo already been more or less fully reported, and tho principal questions at issuo noted. PROMOTION OF TEACHERS'. DISTRICT CONTROL ¥. CENTRALISATION. General support has been given by the meetings to tho request of tho New Zealand Educational.lnstitute for a public endorsement of. tho contention of tho teaching profession that tho questions of classification and promotion should bo placed upon a national basis, and so free the teachers from a system which has encouraged to an unpleasant degreo promotion by favour. Though ono very readily sympathises with an agitation which seeks to provide n means of escapo from tho necessity of going about cap in hand "cadging" for promotion, ono hesitates to concur in tho contention that a national system of promotion is tho only way out. A national system of promotion means a centralised inspectorate, centralised classification boards, and an automatic method of progression from tho bottom of tho ladder to. tho top. It may be .that such a system would at least.bo invulnerable against the evils of'•patrgnago and "wire-pulling," and in that case be infinitely prcferablo to tho present system. But there.e.re a number of points to bo set agajnst this. Those opposed to n national system argue that a centralised inspectorate would extinguish that sympathetic and friendly understanding which, an accomplished fact between permanent district inspectors and the teachers of their respective districts, could not exist—at least, to so satisfactory a degree—between tho inspectors of a Central Dominion Board and teachers whom its individual members saw only at rare intervals. Against that contention, however, is to be set tho argument that in the multitude of counsellors there is much wisdom, and that the united expression of opinion of a central board upon tho professional merits of tho teachers would conduco to a fairer assessment and classification than that which might rcsult from a district inspectorate, where, it is quite conceivable, favouritism might be shown. Tho most serious argument against a central system is that it is subject to the menace of Government patronage, and tho institute should carefully consider that aspect of the position before deciding whether to bear tho ills the profession is subject to under tho present system or fly to others its members know not of. CONTINUATION CLASSES. THE COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE • CLAUSE. A reference to tho proceedings at tho meetings of householders in tho Wanganui and Hawko's Bay districts shows that tho subject of compulsory attendance at continuation classes, which formed the subject of legislation last session, received general attention, the Education Boards of those districts having addressed to the .householders, for an expression of opinion, a similar letter referring to the matter. As tho question is of considerable importance a detailed referenco may bo of interest. At tho meeting in tho Wanganui schools district, Mr. Bruce, chairman of tho Schools Committee, stated in his report that the responsibility of arranging with tho Education Board to bring tho compulsory clauses into effect rested with tho committee, and this would bo ono of the first matters tho newlyelected members will have to deal with. At a recent meeting of the School Committee Association a resolution was

unanimously carried recommending the Wanganui Committee to ask tlio Education Board to bring the compulsory clauses into effect at an early date. When that was done, all girls and boys between 1-1 and 17 years of age, residing within tho prescribed area, and who were riot otherwiso receiving adequate instruction, would bo compelled to attend tho technical classes for two hours twice a week. The subjects studied, or the technical and manual instruction given would bo arranged in courses, as far as possible, appropriate to tho trades, business, professions, or general work which tho young peoplo had in viow. Before definitely fixing tho specialised courses to bo taken by tho individuals—whether girls 07 boys—tho parents or guardians concerned would, as far as possible, bo consulted. Tho Education Board wero to complete the regulations, and they were assured that liberal provision for exemptions would bo allowed, so as to minimise, as far as possible, any undue hardship. In the caso of girls, it was thought that afternoon classes might be arranged for those whoso parents prefer that to the evening, or it might bo decided for the girls' classes to bo held earlior in the evening than those for tho boys. It was also suggested that in tlio literary or theoretical subjects, classes might be arranged for by tho Technical Collego Committee, to bo hold in the various schools around Wangnnui. Much was involved in this very important movement, and those, who would have control of tho classes recognise that the details of the schemo required much careful consideration, but parents might rest assured that tho director of the Technical Collego and his staff of assistants would be depended upon to do their best, not merely to make tho teaching and training of tho students as complete and successful as possible, but also to see that tho strictest supervision and discipline wero manifested, and the moral tone, and healthy ideals they all so much desired wero kept prominently in tho forefront.

It was moved:—"That this meeting learns with pleasuro that the Wanganui Schools Committee lias decided to recommend that tlio Education- Board should put into force the compulsory classes of the Education Act relating to technical education." It was contended that it was in the best interests of our boys and girls that such machinery as the Act provided should bo put into operation. Many parents wero compelled to take their boys and girls away from school when the children were between tho ages of 14 and 17. Boys and girl 3 had been seen roaming about tho streets at night, and it was very desirablo that they should bo compelled to take ono or two subjects at tho Technical School. A lady remarked that the proposal was all right' so far as it concerned tlie boys, but she objected to girls being out at night, and would not allow her daughters to attend. Another lady said that if tho proposal was put into effect it would mean that tho parents would have to see their girls home. Tho motion was carried.

At Norsowood, in tho Hawke's Day district, tho meeting declared in favour of the scheme, but considered that it would be unworkable in that locality. The Tipapakuku householders resolved in favour of compulsory attendance at continuation classes, providing the classes wore not held at night. Waipawa householders also considered the question of "enforcing attendance at evening continuation or technical classes of all children between tho ages of 1-1 and 17 if they have left the day school and livo within two miles of the placo where such classes arc held, was brought up," and resolved that they did not think it advisable that this clauso bo put into operation. Ono speaker said it was in advance of public opinion. At Dannevirke North it was resolved:—"That this meeting recommends tho in-going committeo to ascertain the feelings of parents and employers of apprentices in the maiter, to act accordingly, and take any further steps they deemed advisable, and that such opinions he forwarded to the board." _ Gisborne has generally ap- ■ proved with the exception that girls -should bo exempted. RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS. STAFFS AND SALARIES. Certain anomalies in tho system of staffing district high schools, and also an emphatic condemnation of tho "miserable" stipends paid to teaclwrs in tho secondary departments of these schools were referred to at Stratford and Hawera. In the case of Stratford, Mr. Tyrer, headmaster of tho District High School there, sent hi a stronglyworded letter to the Tarauaki Education Board on tho subject of his stalf. Ho wrote of "tho injustice of the regulation dealing with the staffing of grado Da, that is, schools with an avorago of 450 to .COO, in which grado unfortunately our primary department has been placed under for tho last two years. Tho grado is tho only one in the schedule lor which no increase in staff is provided; in every other case additional teachers aro allowed for every increaso of 50, or less, in average attendance! Our daily attendance now maintained for a year will secure, two additional teachers. But, what of our work in the meantime P Column 6of tho second schedule of regulations for stalf and salaries provide for additional assistance for schools of grade 9a. This regulation has not, so far, been gazetted but the fact that additional assistance is provided by it is an indication that such assistance was considered necessary, and was left out of other regulations only by error. Schools of grade t'a are staffed worse than in any other, higher or lower. There can possibly bo no reason for this oxception. I find it very difficult to carry on tho work of the school as we aro now staffed. Wo aro dealing with over 500 cliildren daily, with tho samo number of teachers as we had years ago, when our averago attendance was just over 400."

_ The board resolved that -tho attention of tho Minister for Education bo drawn to tho anomaly in tho schedule to the Education Amendment Act, 1908, whereby tho staffing of schools in grades 8c and 9a aro on exactly tho samo footing, and that ho bo strongly urged to mako and gazctto regulations as prescribed by Clause 2, Section 10, of the Education Act, 1908, whereby tho appointment of additional assistants as provided for in the Act may bo taken advantage of, and that tho chief inspector write an accompanying letter embodying Mr. Tyrer's statement of tho difficulties tho staff of tho Stratford primary school arc labouring under, and enlarging on the importance of tho request to that school:

At tho Hawera meeting of householders, ono of tho speakers (Mr. Dixon), drew attention to tho fact that the secondary department of tho school had suffered considerably through the continued changes in tho personnel of tho staff. This, he "said, was certainly not in tho best interests of tho. school. He emphasised tho fact that they would have to contend with those changes for all time unless some move was made in the direction of improving the salaries of tho secondary teachers, who were miserably paid in comparison with people employed in other walks of life. They expended lo get a dogrco man for the paltry sum of £180 or £150 per year. That was a slalo of things which ought not lo he. 110 was going to say mimclhini; which, no doubt, would not lie welcomed by tho staff—and that wan the time was fast coming when day technical elnssoii would bo established in n loivn l-hn idze of Hawera. .Such rlmw.t, if •idirtod at Hawora, would menu iiieiensed capitation, and thus a li'lk'lhu - in the secondary department would lie able to bo paid from £.'l5O In £ I0f), 11, would inc.in also that they would cjnitn the very best teachers in the Dominion.

| CENERAL NOTES. AND SUNDRY GRIEVANCES. A resolution was passed to bo forwarded to tho Wanganui Education Board as a requisition that the householders' meeting should be hold at least a week later, on account of its clashing with other meetings.—Tcrraco End School, Palmerston North. Tlio new committee in tho Eketahmia School district has been instructed to further the establishment of a district high school. Tlio committee had been unanimously in favour of Bible-reading in schools, but the Ministers' Association had not been able to arrange hours so as not to clash with their other work.—New Plymouth West End School.

A resolution was passed affirming tho desirability of having . the children's teeth examined periodically by a qualified dentist. Messrs. M'Goun and Jackson, of this town, kindly expressed their willingness to carry out tho work, and advise free of cost, but so far no arrangement has been made.—Carterton School.

The chairman, alluding to certain correspondence appearing in the local press relating to corporal punishment m the schools, said that parents and others feeling a "grievance in this direction should consult- the headmaster or teachers in order to ascertain the facts of the cases before they rushed into print with scurrilous letters, making unfounded ■ and harassing charges against teachers.—Hastings School.

"Since taking office the members of tho committee joined at their own expense tho Wellington District School Committees' Association; but whether it has been beneficial t<J iho school wo cannot say, as wo have never had a report iroin headquarters as to how and what the business was during that period."—Belvedere, Wairarapa.

It was recommended, that in view of tho loss of time entailed in making preparation for school concerts and its effect on the progress made by scholars, that in future .this means of raising revenue bo discontinued. As an alternative it was suggested that tho annual prize distribution ceremony bo nmdo more.attractive to tho public—Lytton Street School, Ecilding.

'In view of the unsatisfactory stato of the 'school" generally,''we feel it our duty to earnestly recommend this meeting of householders to carrv resolutions (a) requesting tho Education Board to retire the headmaster upon superannuation; (b) refraining from electing a new committco until the board give effect to tho abovo request." The committee's recommendations were adopted unanimously.—Waipukurau School.

It was decided not to appoint a committee as'a-protest against inadequate capitation. It was resolved: "That this meeting of householders protest to Waiiganui Education Board that an inadequate amount was granted to the committee for carrying out ordinary necessary work, and that the unpaid account for last year bo forwarded to the Education Board with a request that they pay tho same; further, that in tho absenco of Mr. Bennett, Mr. Guthrie, ,M.l\, be requested to uso his best endeavours to secure for the.school sufficient fund*-to carry on with."—Ashhurst School.

"That this meeting of householders condemns the present system of electing members of Education Hoards, inasmuch as the system prevents direct representation of the pcoplo, and urges Parliament to introduce legislation providing for members of Education Boards being elected to office by tho direct vote of tho people of the Dominion, and thus give dirc 1 ct i cj>ntrol over tho administration of what is, 'in the opinion of this meeting, an office vitally affecting tho present and future well-being of tho State."—Napier Mail School.

"The continual change of teachers is detrimental to the interests of tho school, and is to be regretted. . . . . That this meeting of householders of Pahnerston North respectfully bring before tho Minister for Education the necessity for uniform school books and uniformity in use' of same throughout the Dominion, not only for tho reason of expense, hut principally in the interests of children who are forced to remove to other districts." —College Street School. Palmersten North. .

During tho year -. tho ' question' of erecting a new school on tho site already purchased was brought beforo the board, a numerously-signed petition of householders being presented to the hoard by Mr. Purnell. A sub-commit-teo was appointed by tho'board, hut nothing definite has been dono by that body. Tho sanitary inspector has reported that tho buildings aro in a very unsatisfactory condition, and it is almost impossible to keep tho school in a clean state. The incoming committeo should uso every means possible to got tho school erected at once in order to keep up tho high standard of efficiency that the school has always had.—Marten School.

Tho Education Board took the stand that tho attendance in the secondary department did not warrant a salary sufficiently largo to attract a good male teacher. After considerable correspondence, with the board tho committee,un r dcrtook'to raise £15 per annum locally,' which,, with tho' Government: subsidy, would allow an increase of-£3O to tho salary. A hall was held to raiso tho necessary funds, and, thanks to the efforts of a special committee of ladies, a sum of £19 was sent in for subsidy, which meant £38 towards tho required salary.—Bulls, Rangitikei.

At tho householders' mooting at Napier Main School, ono of tho speakers stated that ho had received a letter from tho secretary of a Labour organisation, pointing out that in Napier many boys from 9 to 13 years of age, who were engaged from 4 a.m. to 8.30 or 9 a.m. on seven days in the week, were also expected to attend school regularly. The work done (delivering milk), tho writer said, by theso children in tho early morning rush of four or fivo hours, was equal to a fair day's work for a man. Children under 14, tho letter proceeded, wero not allowed to work in factories, but there was no power, at present, to stop tho particular brand of child slavery to which tho writer had referred.—lt was decided, on tho motion of Mr. A. 11. Gibson, seconded by tho Rov. J. H. Archer, to write to tho Labour Department, protesting against tho employment of young boys under tho circumstances stated.

"Tho sum to bo paid to tho committeo for tho present year is calculated at £102, but tho Taranaki Education Board proposes to deduct from this £15 paid to tho Borough Council for water supplied to tho Central and Courtcnay Street Schools. Why tho children of ratepayers should bo specially charged for tho water consumed by them whilo attending school passes comprehension. If this charge- is persisted in, tho committee's revenue in 1911-12 will amount to £87 (about 3s. 2Jd. on an avcrago of £539), nntl it cannot possibly carry on with this sum. Tho caretaker receives £65 per annum for daily attention to the two schools, old fusty wooden buildings a quarter of a milo apart, one well over 30 years in use. and tho other nearly as ancient, and, having regard to the manner in which the work is done, the committee feels itself an involuntary party to an undoubted caso of 'sweating.'"—Now Plymouth Central School.

Miss Beaconhill: 'What are the most disagreeable features about your school, Johnnie?" Johnnie: "Tho teacher's." for Chronic Chest Complaints. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is, Gil., 25. lid.—Advt.