THE EDUCATION BILL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2172, 10 June 1914, Page 8

THE EDUCATION BILL

EAGERLY ANTICIPATED BY THE N.Z, INSTITUTE Anticipation of the proposed' Education Bill is keen in New /iertland educational circles at prosesit. To a Dominion reporter yesterday, Mr. A. Erskinc, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, stated that a spccial meeting of the New Zealand Institute, would tie he-Id in Welhngtmi next month, on a tlato to be fixed. At the meeting representatives would be prcseht from tlie thirteen district institutes throughout. the Dominion, and the chief business would be consideration of tho Education Bill, which the Minister promised Mst sfeskm, and consideration of Vtirioits remits whicli were postponed from the' annual meeting, held in Auckland in Jp.iiuar.v last. Dealing with the IMncaMott Bill, Mr. Erskino - said that they had good -reasons for. believing that srnsh a Bill'.was being prepared, ar.d would probably he introduced e-irly' is the cowing session. "I wight say hero," went on Mr. Erskine, "that the action of the Canterbury' District Institute, in inter* viewing. member® ot Parliament for thsfc district, was merely with file object of bringing prominently under the notice of those geiitle'jiiejv the views ef the service, with regard to the various reforms we hope to see i.ittrijd'ugeql, and was not. intended tq show a want of confidence in the Government. Tho executive expects that other institutes will fallow Xoi t!i Cant-erbtjry's example, and get hold of their members of • Parliament,' iritbm tie coursc of the month."The Salary Question, "What is one oi' the most important matters hoped Ittr in the Bi.il f" Mr, Erskine was asketj. Replying, he said : "Ofte of .the most important matters amon-grt th» many which it is hoped that the. Bill will deal with is the siihty question. Since tfe last scale - Of salaries came into force no material- alteration has bedii made in-' teachers'' 'salaries, nw! tho great advance, during the last decade. •in the cost of living, makes it .imperative that substantial- ingrett&ig in salaries should bo given. .'The advances ft&dij sti the Post, Office, the ©Qfer-iKiejifc RBi'lttays,. and the 'Pdics Force, .tend to show that, this fact is recognised by the Government, ar.d t'h<s teackoFs sgg no teason why t.Herr claims, should not receive equally, favonrahlo consideration."

A Responstblo Post, ."By placing salaries en an equality with those of other. Departments -of the State, it ■is hoped to iipk only .give financial'relief, but. to make the Service somewhat isoro attractive, espc'Ciailv to men. Tho teacher. the pliysiea}, mental, and moral training of the future citizens af this Doniiiiion almost entirely in .'his, hands, and it is therefore highly: necessary if the .ft,ate is to get. a satisfactory rehire for it's outlay on education, that the best material for tho making of tcachers should be attracted •into the Service. At the present time the inadequate salaries and •tho irksome conditions <jf work are fruitful cause of wires!. "It is a fact" went or. Mr. Erskine, "that in on© year, 1400 flew appointments were, njade ill a Service numbering somewhere, between IOQO and 5000 It is certain that where so much change takes place in-a Service the best work cannot be done. It . is. not surprising., therefore, uthat/*f.h6.'> best of our. ymiijg neAple prefer to seek other walks ' of life." Council of Edtioatfon. Asked to express his views ci'n tho proposed. Council of Education, Mr, Erskino said that, amongst some of tho other _ reforms . the institution of a .Council 0f Education had to take, the main place. Such a body, he held. 6hould bay# tho direction of the eduea*.' tional policy of tho 3Do.mmioft, and' should consist mainly of educational, cx-

parts representing every branch of education—primary, technical, secondary, and university. In tie opinion of iilto oxccutivo of thrt New Zealand Educational Institute some of the functions of such a body would be S" (1) Prescribing co-ordinated courses of study from kindergarten schools to university. (2) Appointing, grading, sad controlling teachers, (3) Appointing and controlling inspectors. (4) Providing a sufficient supply of trained teachers, (5) 'Controlling the physical education and medical inspection of school children, and providing for the treatment of defective and • sufo-itorhlal cWld-ren. . (6) Generally, providing for %e development «f the education system of. the Dominion, i» accordance with modern ideals. Other matters to' he dealt with at- the meeting are the' hotter staffing of schools, centralisatioij of the inspectorate, and the grading of teachers.