EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1865, 26 September 1913, Page 6

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

The annual report of the Minister of Education, which was laid on the table in the House of Representatives yesterday, shows that the status of the teachers is steadily improving. During tho year 1912 tho certificated teachers increased by 136, the partially qualified by 67, and_ the uncertificated by only 58. This preponderant increaso in the number _of qualified teachers is a gratifying feature, because it is obvious that the quality of the education the children reccive depends upon the qualifications of the men and women whose duty it is to instruct them. It ought, however, in fairness to be stated that a great amount of good work is being done by tho uncertificated teachers, especially in the small country schools, and they deserve tho best thanks of the community: but tho ideal must bo to ensure as far as possible that our schools shall bo staffed by thoroughly trained and fullyequipped teachers. The future of the Dominion bo largely depends upon our education system tnat we can never bo content with the second best as regards the teaching profession. Another point of interest is tho reference in the report to what is being dono'in the way of agricultural education, and it is satisfactory to find that there has been a steady advance in this direction. Courses of instruction bearing on rural pursuits (having a domestic trend in the case oi girls) have been given in connection with 28 district high schools, as against 17 in 1011, tho number _ of pupils concerned being 887 as against 499 in the previous year. Of Sourso there is room for great extension of this work, and no doubt as soon as the authorities are a little more certain as to tho best lino of advance much more will bo done. The great thing is to do tho right thing, and not merely to do something for the sake of appearances. _ A step forward has also been taken in the direction of physical instruction and medical attention. A medical inspector is now stationed in each of the four centres, and the teachers are being trained to assist in this work. The Minister recognises that only a modest beginning has been made, and the report states that the number of medical officers will havo to be increased very shortly. Physical fitness is so fundamentally important to tho nation that the doctor and the dentist aro inevitably going to play an increasingly important part in our education system. In no other way can the ideal of a sound mind in a sound body be attained. In every civilised country more attention is being paid to the health of tho school children, for, as a leading authority states, Science has taught' us tho intimate connection between physiology and psychology} tho physician, has become indispensable as adviser and inspector of all types of school, and watches the condition both of teacher and scholar."