EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 7

EDUCATION.

REVIEW OF THE NEW ZEALAND CENTRE, ' REPORT OP PARLIAMENT TARY COMMITTEE,

ROYAL COMMISSION'S FINDINGS

MODIFIED.

The Education Committee of tho House of Representatives during tho session has-been engaged in'consideration of tho educational system of the country, and in preparing a report upon the findings of tho 13du.oat.ion Commission as presented to the House on August 29 of last year. Yesterday, afternoon the committee, through its chairman, Mr. G. JI. Thomson, presented its report, which contains suggestions for legislation to be brought down j next, session. 'tlie committee reports that, it is. in genera! agreement with many of the findings of the Commission," but is of opinion that before they are given effort, to by legislative enactment, some. . of them require modification.' For 1 this reason tlie committee deals seriatem with tho findings of tho Commission^ Control *f Education. The committee recommends the establishment of a Council of National Education representing all branches of Education as an advisory body to meet annually and at such other' times us tho Minister may direct. That tho number of Education Boards .he reduced (say, to 8 or.9)—the comniitiee j 3 not prepared to agree that tiiey be reduced to five. Tiiat the Education Hoards exorcise control over all public primary education and, in regard to secondary and i technical education, that the curriculum 1 of any secondary school or technical school under separate, managers shall be subject to the approval of tho boards in order to secure suitable provision for the educational needs of tho district and reasonable co-ordination between tho work of all tho educational institutions in tho district. That Education Boards consist ,or iwelvo members, nino to bo elected by school committees, as'at present, out) by governing bodies of secondary schools, one by boards of managers (if technical school*;, and one by all certificated teachers of tho district. The committee is not in favour of. the recommendations of the Commission upon School Boards." No evidence in support was adduced. It is recommended that the principal of the present school committee system he retained.

Administration. It is recommended that there should bo a Dominion scale of salaries of inspectors. in three grades, that a. uniform rate of travelling _ allowances should bo paid, that the number of hispoctors to be appointed in cadi education district should bo subject to the approval of the Minister of Education, and that j Director of Education, responsible to the Minister of Education for tho general administration of all branches of education bo appointed. The present, practice of handing over certain class of Native schools to the. Education Boards should, in'tho opinion of the committee, bo continued. Tho inspection of secondary [schools, of freo kindergartens, of manual, technical, and agricultural instruction should, suggests tho committee, be retained in tho hands of the Education Department, which should also have the control and rospon-: si'oilit.y for tho issue of railway passes for pupils and teachers. Simplification of returns is approved wherever possible. It is suggested that an officer of special qualifications should' bo appointed to supervise tho inspection and organisation of agricultural education. Ths Teachers, . The provision made by the Commission for the training'of teachers is approved by tho committee. Candidates for appointment'in secondary schools should undergo one year's training in a training' college, but such training should "not be made a condition of appointment. Since the Commission's.report was drawn up, the regulations have been amended to permit an increase of 50 per cent, in the number of probationers, and to permit education boards to allot probationers to any approved school of Gmde lA' or upwards. The Government is asked to bring down a comprehensive measure next session, dealing with teachers' salaries. Tho committee recognises the value of. classification, and is of the-opinion that by annual conferences of chief inspectors the boards will have available expert advice, enabling them to grado teachers on a basis which will be of great value in appointments and promotions in each special district, will aid in transfers from one district to another, and wili probably eventually lead-to a Dominion scheme of grading. The committee disagrees with the report of the Commissioners, that twelve months' notice is necessary, .before, iot regulations become operative.

Educational Problems. The committee holds that the payment of capitation on manual work in school classes on tlio basis'iif individual' attendance should bo 'abolished, and that the average woolsly attendance, should be substituted; that the scale of payment for country classes should be increased; that in secondary, schools typewriting should not he taught; that only the rudiments of shorthand should bo taken, but that the principles of book-keeping—if introduced—should botaught in a thorough manner. ■ ■ The principle of continuation classes is approved, and tiieir establishment is recommended wherever possible. The committeo dissents from the opinion that agricultural high schools should be established in agricultural of pastoral districts, when the attendance at the district high school reaches an average of eighty pupils, as it approves the continuation' and development of tlio present system of teaching agricultural subjects. The committee approves of tlio establishment of one- or more agricultural colleges for the training of farmers and tho higher trainiiiß of teachers and instructors in agricultural work.

While the committee agrees generally with ihe suggestions made upon tho syllabus by tlio Commission it does not approve of the recommendation to. prescribe specially prepared rending books, and that before any alterations are made in the syllabus particulars of the same should bo furnished to all teachers through the various institutes. Consolidation Scfiaois, The committee approves of the Commission's finding upon kindergarten \rorh, linl- it is Jtot prepared at present (0 recommend that tho kiudorgarlcii should constitute "tho initial step id' the education ladder" of tho Dominion. There should ho groaierdill'erentiation of echoed work between boys and girls. In tho case of the latter greater prominence should 'no given to tho domestic Kvi'.-.n'o ci'.HFso. The- consolidation of schools should receive greater consideration from Education Boards, - M both in primary and district ijji'rJi sclieols considerable improvement' In nflicipiie.v. together with economy of a;l----.jiiujistiiition inigbj )» jsmiredj;' ffiioj

committee emphasises the finding of tm< Commission tliat the Railway Department should co-operate in the attendance of children; monitors should bo appointed to supervise travelling children. The Minister was recommended tf consider the- whole question of jiuation. Tim reoofflniai'daithws of tho Commission upon scholarships and free- places and upon private and cor* rcs])oiideuco schools were approved. Legislation Foreshadowed. Sir Joseph Ward said that it seemed to him that the whole problem should ho considered by members -during tlie recess, and that any intended legislation should he introduced early nest session. The references to superannuation wore of great importance, .and might lie specially dealt with, wit-limit wailing for n solution of some- of tho greater problems raised. The sumo applied to the proposals relating to tho grading of teachers and to teachers' salaries. The Hon. .las. Allen {Minister of Education) said that both the Education Commission's report and that of (lie 'Education Committee were vorv valuable documents, and he would he ii<'illectiiiK i ill's duty if lio did not carefully consider them. Early next session, after lie had carefully considered this report and tlie Commission's reHorfc, leglslniioii would be introduced. He thought it might he said that separate legislation, would lie ililvoduced dealing with teachers' supcran* nurition. It would probably ho necesto amalgsmnie the 'different Public? Service Superannuation Funds and appoint a beard to control thoso funds, After further discussion, the report was laid on (he table.