The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1914. THE EDUCATION BILL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2282, 16 October 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1914. THE EDUCATION BILL

Education, like defence, should be kept out of the arena; of party politics. It should be treated from tho national point of view, and no considerations of party interest.should bo allowed to prevent politicians of every shade of opinion from co- ; operating for the purpose of making our education system as perfect a-s possible. Tho discussion on the Education Bill, which took place iu the House of Representatives on Wednesday night, was fairly free from the grosser forms of party fighting, but there was an unmistakable'tendency ■on the part of some Opposition speakers to make use-of the occasion for electioneering purposes. The outbidding tactics which were at times in ovi-dence-during, the debate are not at all likely to impress favourably such an intelligent body of men and women as the teachers of New Zealand, nor will they appeal to the general public. The teachers know that the status of their profession would be lowered in the eyes of all right-thinking people if they allowed themselves to become mere counters in the game of party politics, and they can easily see through the shallow pretence of those members who, how that they are in Opposition, declare that the proposals of tho Bill do not go far enough, conveniently ignoring the' fact that Mr. Allen's scheme of reform is a great improvement on the condition of things which existed in the ckiys when their own party was in power. The measure- now before Parliament docs not remedy all grievances. It is not the final word in legislation concerning- our teachers and schools; »ut it is a real.. step forward, and all fair-minded critics must admit that it will place the teaching profession on a much better footing, and that it will increase the efficiency of the whole system. That there is plenty of room for improvement in ' the existing methods and machinery of education in New Zealand no thoughtful person will deny, and the fact that the country is not content with things as they are is a healthy and hopeful sign. A wholesome discontent with what is imperfect and inefficient prevents stagnation. It keeps things' movinjr onwards, and without it there would be no progress. The present Government too., up the work of educational reform with commendable earnestness, and if they have not so far fulfilled every expectation, they have certainly gone a long way to make up for the neglect of those who preceded them. It is generally admitted that'the salaries of New Zealand teachers in the past have not been an adequate remuneration for the important duties they are expected to perform for tho community. Still there has been some, improvement' in recent years. Mr. Allen pointed out on Wednesday night that in the year 1900 tho average salary of men teachors was £163 12s. Bd.; in 1913 the average had risen to £227; and in 1915 it would be £251. This represented an increase of 63 per cent, in 15 years, during which period the cost of living is estimated to have gone up about 16 per cent. The average salary of women teachers was £85 12s. 6d. in 1900; in 1913 it was £128 10s.; and in 1915 it would be £156 —an increase of 82 per cent, in 15 years. This upward tendoncy is satisfac-" tory a-s far aa it goes, but it will have to go further if the best men and women of the community are to bo attracted to the teaching pro-

fession, and it is of the greatest national importance that the highest standard should bo maintained. The Bill makes a very desirable improvement in tho working conditions of the teachers by centralising tho inspectorate, which' will remove tho obstacle in tho way of a uniform system of salaries and a Dominion scheme of promotion. This will open a wider field to teachers and enlargo their opportunities of bettering their positions. Tho Bill also provides tor the establishment of a Council of Education and for a decrease in tho number of education districts. Tho rearrangement of boundaries necessitated Dy this decrease will causo some difficulty owing to the local interests and sentiments which havo to bo taken into consideration. Tho efficiency of the system will, however, be increasod by haying fewer and larger districts, and it ought to be possible for tho parties interested, if they approach the matter in _ a 'proper spirit, to arrivo at an amicable agreement as to the new boundaries. If due allowance is made for community of interest, all that is needed to overcome any difficulties in this connection is the exercise of goodwill and a, spirit of rational compromise. The proposals contained in the Bill will involve a very considerable increase in tho cost of education. The amount' paid in salaries under the 1008 Act was £677,000, and the scale provided for in the present Bill will bring the total up. to £783,000, being an increase of no less than £106,000. This is a substantial advance, but no reasonable person will complain if ho knows that the State is getting good value for tho money being spent, Our oduca;Uoa system docs not exist to gro-

vide occupation for teachers and inspectors, but for the welfare of tho children. We expect tho school system to. train our young people for their life's work; to fit them to play their part well in the family and in tho larger world outside; to make them good men and women and good citizens. In so far as it docs this no one will grudge the amount of money spent upon- it.