TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1951, 7 January 1914, Page 6

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, January 6. At the Teachers' Institute Conference to-day it was decided to hold futu.ro congresses in Wellington during the Parliamentary session, on the ground that members, of Parliament will bo more alert to the requirements of tho profession while attending Parliament. ■ Congress discussed the executive's proposal that the institute should deyoto its efforts to securing the following reforms: —(a) Inauguration of a Council of Education, which, under tho control of Parliament, shall have- tho direction of educational policy and administration ; (b) placing the inspectorial and teaching staffs under tho control of a central authority such as tho council or Public Service Commissioner; (c) an adequate scale of Salaries for teachers and inspectors; (d) provision for sufficient supply of trained teachers; (e) substitution of somo better basis than attendance for computation of salaries. The secretary (Mr. Parkinson, of Wellington) claimed that a really national system of education was impossible. Under the present system it was not possible for the appointment of teachers to bo carried out to the bf\st advantage by education boards. Tsr> estimated that by centralisation £20,000 would bo saved in administration. The schemo would also break down the barriers between tho teachers m different parts of New Zealand.

Mr. H. Young said the Southland branch held it was too drastic to 'talk about abolishing education boards. He believed four or fivo should be retained. Tho raeoting was divided on the question of having tho local administration carried out by local bodies, such as borough nncl county councils, and this suggestion was rejected. Further discussion was postponed. During the conference-, Mr. Inspector-General, speaking unofficially, said a Dominion scheme of grading toachora would bo comparatively easy, compared with a Dominion scheme for the promotion of a standard of marks. 'It was not a common standard, but with inspectors all members of oixj body that system would bo easier. He boliovod the grading system could bo improved by a centralised inspectorate, but they must bavo local authority to keep up a standard education system. There should bo at least ono expert adviser for each local authority.