AIDED SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 10

AIDED SCHOOLS.

LIVING WAGE FOR TEACHERS. Among the handicaps of life in the back blocks is the difficulty of having children educated. Tho system in force in New; Zealand provides for "aided schools, where the teachers reside with the parents, and receive a salary paid upon a capitation basis, at tho rato of M per head up to eight pupils. In connection with this subject (reports the Auckland "Herald"), Mr. J. D. M'Kenzie, at a recent meeting of the Auckland Education Board, moved: "That the time has arrived when aided schools, viz., those in Grade O, should be placed in a more satisfactory position by fixing the minimum salary for tho teachers of such schools at not less than .fljOa year." He pointed out that nine children removed the school into another grade, with a minimum salary of .£IOO and a residence. Tho board should aim at employing only teachers reasonably qualified, wit the capitation did not enable them to do so. There were in New Zealand 135 aided schools, attended by 700 children. These children should bo considered; and the board should endeavour to do something more for the back-blocks settlers than was now being, done. Hβ did not care, so long as relief was given to the people in tho back country, whether the money was taken from the share of the big schools, or from the Consolidated Revenue. The chairman said that what was required was to prevent any children being neglected merely because they had to live in the back-blocks. He would suggest an increased capitation for schools with three to five pupils to .Cβ per head, and six to eight pupils, .*7 per head, with the present amuigiunont of .L'loo per year for schools of nine children. That Would inerrasu I lie payment considerably, and givo a further inducement to teachers. Mr. M'Ki'nr.ie paid that tinder that proposal, a teacher in a small school would not receive ii living v.nge. The board now had In solid the lame, the halt, and thn blind to places, and that was what he wanted to «toji. Tho sccrntarv remarked I hot Ih<! hoard dirt not send them. It hail to "end wlioin it could and limply -appointed such people

The chairman said the board fully approved the principle of the motion. Mr. G. \V. Murray saiil that in New South Wales no teacher received less than .£llO per annum. Jle was strongly in favour of the motion, Mr. Harris ulmi npoke ill support; nnil on his s>ij;f{oslioj! it wns decided that the chairninn uml .Mes*r«, M'Keime and .Murray sliuiild consider Hie matter further, and submit the. result to the board. CAP AND GOWN. RESTHICTKD USIJ AT THE 'VARSITY. Everyone acquainted with the demociatic spirits now dominant anions '"e undprgrudua|p.s of Melbourne Vnivcriity r.as Jong kmwii that the cumbrous academic sown and trencher li.no Jong been falling into disuse—except amongst, the ladies Climatic and • other conditions have obliged professors to ;\eqme*o in (he tendency, and in sonio cases to cordially welcome, it. Not until lately, however, have they officially capitulated and openly cciifosse.l their inubility to ci>forcu tlio university law, which, nominally , compels every uuder-gradualo, the male or female, to wear the gown at lectures and examinations when in'llie library or quadrangle, as well as on "solemn" official occasions. Their capitulation took the form of. a recommendation to the University Council that the regulations be amended so as practically to eonfins the obligation to the "solemn" official occasions. Profjs-or Masson, who submitted the views of the professorial board on the subject, said the nmende:l regulations were really designed to bring the law into line with'thu practice. During the hot months it was more customary to take, the coat off —in the laboratory especially—than to wear a gown. Dr. Macfarlanil opposed the amendment of the regulations. It was a serious loss b the discipline of the university when they found the gown falling into disuse. Ho would be sorry to see the obligatory use further red iced. ■ The Hev. E. 11. Sugden: The professors have power now to dispense with the use in special circumstances. I should be sorry to seo tbc gown abolished at the arts and law lectures. (Hcor, hear.) Uγ. keeper: The woman students w«ar their gowns, and look very nice indeed. (Laughter.) The men don't look so nice. They had heard a good deal lately of the moral effect of wearihj; the badge. (Loud laughter.) It was saw to tend to unity. (Hear, hear.) So with the roivd. It promoted a feeling of. .comraderii.'. (Hear, hear.) There was no occasion for drastic abolition. (near, hear.) If they went on in this fashion it would end in nobodr buying a. gown, and the practical abolition of it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Justice Hood: What is the penalty for disobedience of the existing law?. Sir John Madden: The students caa be fined Or rusticated. Dr. Macfarlan'd: The law Should bo enforced. Sir John Madden defended the me of the gown as making for good conduct in matters of grave concern. If they got rid of it and made personal convenience the to.st, they might approach that sus.pension of the conventions which in another relation had inaugurated mixed bathing. (Laughter.) He knew of no country in the world in which it was more, (lesirublc than in Australia to retain these seemly accompaniments of the discharge of grave business. (Applause.) Mr. Justice Iliggius agreed in a measure with those who desired to retain the gown, but suggested that the obligation to wear it at lectures and examinations lie subject to the exercise of a power of suspension by .some officer irt charge, —especially iit the case of laboratory work. . '.', ■'~,: • . The Chancellor (Sir John Madden): In the Courts a Judge/would nbt hesitate in certain circumstances, to. allow the, wearing of wig and gown to be .suspended. But the rule is maintained in ordinary circumstances. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Bride thought the exemption should be confined to laboratory work.. Professor Masson .said, the request for amended regulations, did, hot, emanate from those particularly concerned in laboratory work, but.from one of tho senior arts professors. At. present tho law was very much more, broken than observed. It was a common thing to see.'Students wearing their gowns in the "quad.," but on top of the students' head would bo a parti-ebloured cricket cap. (Laughter.) it had been found practically impossible to enforce the law. The principal sinners war? from Trinity, Ormond, and Queen's Colleges. (Loud laughter.) Nonresident students generally broke the law completely, and appeared with neither gown or 'trencher. The residents often wore a mixed costume, which was, if anything, worse than the non-use of the gown. (Hear, hear.) Sir John Madden said he was sorry to hear that gentlemen placed in chargo of classes of students found they could not enforce the regulations. He could not. imagine how it could be found difficult to insist that the students wore ,!heir. gowns. It was a very.serious thing to say. that the rule could not bo enforced, whether ' witli regard to etudents from the distinguished colleges named or to non-resident students. The Professorial Board should face the responsibility. (Hear, hear.) Sir. Justice Hood: How can the professor enforce the regulations? Iβ he to run after the students and compel them h> wear the gown? Sir John Madden: He might ask thn marshal, who is a vert useful officer, end he might collect the fine. I'rofessor Masson: I see the feeling of tho counail is against the recommendation. I will do my best to enforce the law. The recommendations of the Professorial Board were formally disapproved.