OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1511, 6 August 1912, Page 5

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. POSSIBLE SAVING OF £50,000 A YEAR. ' CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATION SUGGESTED. The report of tho Education Commission will be presented to Parliament this afternoon. The effect is to recommend a complete change in (lie administration of the system of education, including a severe curtailment of the functions of the Education Department. Its aggrandisement in recent years by the addition of inspectors and' departments is dealt with, and recommendations made to reduce it to approximately its former proportions without impairing its efficiency. ! The proposed method of administration is new in this country. There was somo difference of opinion as to the form of control which should bo the starting place. The majority of the commission favoured an advisory council of fifteen members to assist the central department, and a minority report signed by Mr. Fred Pirani proposes ail administrative council of seven, whoso decisions would be subject to veto by tlio Minister for Education. Tho constitution of the advisory council proposed by tho majority is as follows:— The Minister for Education as chairman, a director of education, a supervisor of technical education, two representatives of the producing interests, one representative of the inspectors, five representatives of education boards, two representatives of primary school teachers, one representative of secondary school teachers, one representative of technical school teachers, and one representative of the University Senate. Although the duties of the council aro exceptionally onerous, it is suggested that the ouly pay attached to tho positions should 1)8 actual travelling' expenses and an allowance while attending meetings. The council, it is proposed, would adviso oil all questions relating to education, to prepare regulations on every subject connected with education, and to present un aunual report for ' Parliament, covering its operations for the year. It is proposed that the council should meet only twice a year. Tho proposal by Mr. Pirani is an administrative council of education, comprising two nominees by the Minister for Education (ons of them being the director of education, two elected by the certificated teachers, two by the boards of education, and one by tho inspectors of schools, with the Minister for l-Mucatioii as chairman. Mr. Pirani's proposal is that the members should be paid and hold office for five years, meeting at least once every two months. Tho members of the council would devote their timo to the duties of fhe council in controlling tlio primary, secondary, and technical education. The council would be entrusted with the administration of the funds voted by Parliament for education, subject to the veto of tho Minister, and its ineliibers individually would specialise in tho different branches of education. Mr. Pirani proposes that tlio council would control tho Education Department.. New Education Districts. There is agreement by all tho members of the commission 011 tho rest of the system of educational government except that the minority report urges the adoption of the elective system of proportional representation. The reduction of tlio number of. education boards , from thirteen to five is recommended, this being otfected by a grouping of the education districts. It is proposed that tho Auckland district should remain as at present, that Wanganui, Taranaki, and llawke's Bay should l'orm the second, Wellington, Nelson, and Marlborough tho third, North Canterbury, South Canterbury, Grey, and Westlaud "tho fourth, and Otago and Southland the fifth. Auckland would still be the largest. education district in tlio dominion, but tables in the report show that there would bo a fairly equal proportion of pupils, and of large and sniallx schools in tlio other proposed districts. It is suggested that tho education boards should have .control of primary, seconds ary, and technical education, and.have conferred upon them the functions at present exercised by the governing bodies of those institutions. School Boards in Largo Towns, In every centre with a population of 8000 or over it is proposed that a school board should bo established. Its function would be to control all branches of education in its district subject to tho ad-' ministration of tho education board, and it would have power to appoint committees for the different institutions. _ Boroughs and counties with a population of over 4000 are to hav» power by a majority vote, of the electors to establish school boards. Where there aro 110 school T)oards, committees are to bo elected for districts comprising two or more schools, and where that is not convenient school commissioners are to be appointed for individual schools. Modified Local Taxation. Consideration of the question of financo was specially enjoined by tho order cf reference. A suggestion is niado that the State should offer subsidies' of ,C 2 for every .CI raised by local bodies by taxation!' or by contributions from ■ local bodies for education purposes. Subsidies of .C for Ji aro proposed for sums raised by voluntary effort or given by bequest i'or any school purpose. " , Saving of £50,000 <1 Year, Tho Commission estimates that a saving of .£50,000 a year may be effected by the adoption of a number of reforms, including .the transfer of the inspectorate now existing in connection with the central department to tho education boards; a simplification of returns, and of the system of paying for manual and technical training; the demilitarisation of school cadets; the abolition of postal charges (with the attendant expense of accountkeeping); the discontinuance of town scholarships and a curtailment of free places; the consolidation of schools; a curtailment, of tho supply of free readers, .and tho supply of all school requisites direct from the manufacturers to the education boards. Teachers and Salaries. Tho suggestions for reform include an increase in tlio number of training college students, tho establishment of observation schools to supplement tho present method of training teachers and tlio training of secondary school teachers. Schools with an average attendance of over 500 to bo included in grada X; tho salaries of infant mistresses to bo not loss than thoso of second assistants; tho special allowance of .£3O a year to musters of district high schools to be discontinued; tho minimum salary for a certificated teacher in charge of a school abovo Grade I to be not less than .£l5O por annum and no deduction to bo made from tho salary of a teacher who has qualified for a certificate. but who is under 21 years of age. Tho Commission proposes the compulsory grading and promotion of teachers and draws attention to the absenco of sufficient notico of changes in tho teachers' examination regulations. It advises tho remedying of defects in tho superannuation scheme. Subjects and Methods. It is proposed that payment, for manual training work in primary schools should ho based on the average weakly roll. Tho issue of ft certificate I'or qualified plumbers is suggested and another proposal is that there should be Dominion examinations in trades and crafts, . Tho commission recommends that shorthand; typewriting and book-keeping should not bo taught in secondary schools; the disestablishment. of district high schools in localities where high schools and technical schools provide similar instruction. 11l order to extend rural education, it is recommended tlmt increased. marks should be given in (lie matriculation ami Civil Service examinations for subjects taken in the rural course; that agricultural hieh schools should be established with two agricultural cfllkijM tit which inspectors, teachers, . and organisers would qualify, and by th(^

employment of experts in tho Department of Agriculture to instruct classes. School Hygiene, Reforms aro proposed in tho style of school buildings and equipment, in tho methods of heating the classrooms, and' by tho provision of belter playgrounds. The provision of better railway facilities for attending schools is also urged. Private schools', it is recommended, should not be given exemption from State control nnloss tho building, equipment, sanitation, anil playgrounds are at least equal - to thoso of the State srclinols, and 110 Slate assistance to be given to secondary schools which aro not under tho control of Education Boards. Correspondence schools to l)e registered. An improvement Is propuscd 111 tlio law regarding compulsory attendance at primary schools, and ton-, tinuation classes, and the commisMon aiso advises that measures should be devised ■ to prevent tho loitering of children in tlifl streets and in tho neighbourhood of cli* lortainmcnts at night. Alterations in the Syllabus. Detailed recommendations aro given trt regard' to alterations ill the syllabus In tho direction of counteracting slovenliness ol speech, tho establishment of school libraries, simplification of arithmetic, and making it more practical, simplification of geography, with more attention to that ( branch dealing with industries and products; introduction of a definite course in history and civics; reduction and reform ill the requirements of drawing; special instruction in .singing; accentuation of moral instruction; importance of nature study and school-gardens; lessons, in health, the keeping of record cards, and the payment by the boards for medical attention i'or pupils whero parents aro unable to do so; reduction of the mini- 1 • ber of term examinations to two; reduction in the work imposed on girls, especially for those between twelve and seventeen years of ago, and in their homo work in secondary schools;'accrediting to.: supersede* examinations whero possible 1 and the necessity for an undertaking from parents that free place holders should spend at least two years at the secondary schools.