SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 5

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SERIES OF FINDINGS, ON THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. (By Teleernph.—Prtos ABSocintion,) Christchurch, May 22. The report of tho sub-committee set up by tho New Zealand Secondary Schools Conference to consider the report of tho recent Education Commission, presented its report at a sitting of tho confercnce to-day. It submitted the following resolutions for consideration by tho conference:—

It was resolved: "That the conference is in favour of the institution of a Council of Education, whoso functions should bo purely consultative and advisory, and which should therefore bo composed purely of experts. All new regulations, ete., should bo submitted to the council i'o.v its opinion, Tho representation of secondary and higher education, sug-. gested by the commission, is altogether inadequate."

Control of Secondary Education, Tho second resolution, was: "That this conference is strongly of opinion,that tho placing of secondary education (as well as primary and technical education) under tho control of education boards,' or of the proposed school boards, would be contrary to the best interests of education in this Dominion. The conference is further of opinion that tho control of secondary education should remain with governing bodies appointed ad hoc though the constitution o! such bodies may, in some cases, bo open to amendment. It is essential that the inspection of secondary schools should'remain, as now, in the hands of tho Central "Department. Also essential that any inspector-general, or director of education, who may l>e hereafter appointed, shall be (like the present Inspector-Gen-eral) one who is fully conversant with both higher and primary branches of education." Simpler Returns. The third resolution was: "That this conference strongly sympathises with the recommendation that tho returns 1m much simplified, believing that that might easily bo done without the smallest detriment to tho Public Service, and that many of tho details might safely be left to tho good faith of tho principal or other responsible authority.

Training of Teachers. Fourth resolution: "That the conference is of opinion that' more real facilities should be afforded for tho training of secondary teachers, but dissents from tiio recommendation that candidates for appointments in secondary schools bo compelled to undergo ouo year's training in a training collcgo, believing that this would, iu tho present circumstances, prevent many able persons from entering the profession of secondary teaching."

Manual Instruction, i Fifth resolution: "That tho conference is of opinion that the system of payment for manual and technical instruction in secondary schools should be revised and simplified in accordance with the spirit of tho commission's recommendation in ro secondary schools. The basis should bo simply tho roll number in each term of class concerned, as certified by the principal." Junior Free Places, Sixth resolution: "That tho oonfcrenco dissents from tho recommendation that tlio present eertiiicalo of proficiency and oprtilicato of competency examinations bo abolished. It is of opinion that tho present system of awarding junior freo pluces has proved itself to bo substantially satisfactory. Tho conference dissents Irani tho recommendation that a monetary guarantee bo exacted from parents of children entering upon junior freo placos at secondary schools; that such children shall remain for at least two years. The grounds of its dissent aro that such guarantee would deter'children of poor parents from entrance, and that the experienoo ot its members shows that the averago length of stay is perceptibly increasing." Scholarships,

Seventh resolution: "The conference strongly dissents from tho proposal to abolish Junior National nnd Junior Education Board Scholarships. Tho conference is of opinion that the number of Senior Education Board Scholarships might, with great benefit, bo increased, in order that a greater number-of able boys and girls than at present may have the fullest chances of profiting by tho advantages offered to them by our national system of education."

Private Schools. Eighth resolution: "The conference approves of tho recommendation that all private schools should bo subject to inspection, and is of opinion that no private school should bo permitted to be conducted without an official certificate that it reaches the minimum standard of general efficiency, and that structural arrangements, ctc., are satisfactory."

The Recent Education Commission. General: "That, without easting any reflection upon the personnel of tho Into commission, the conference feels bound to represent that tho weight attaching to its recommendations' as regards secondary education •is very seriously lessened by tho fact that the commission included no secondary administration of experience, and no representative o£ higher education." ,