EDUCATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2504, 3 July 1915, Page 10

EDUCATION COUNCIL

- SITTINGS CONCLUDED Tho Council of Education concluded its sittings yesterday. Further business dono was as follows:— Tho committee appointed to consider the question of establishing a secondary school at Stratford, recommended that, subject to compliance with Section 38 of tho Act, tho council be recommended to advise the Minister to establish such a school at Stratford. Tho interim report of tho committee on tlio schemes of control of secondary schools recommended that tho council adviso tho Minister to givo notice to tho igoveining .bodies of tho Christchurch Boys' and Girls' High Schools and of tho Wellington College and Wellington Girls' College to forward schemes in accordance \vith Section.92 of the. Act; also, that the Minister be advised to adont tho scheme of control for the Gisborno High School as amended by tho committee. Mr. Pirani, chairman of the Waugar nui Girls' College Board of Governors, waited on the council to support the objections of tho board to tho proposed scheme of -control suggested by the Department. Mr. Hogben proposed: "That tho matters be referred to the Committee on Schemes of Control with an instruction that tho date of election be altered from December 31 to July 31, and that tho fees remain as they have been hithorto; and, further, that tlio question of expulsion bo referred-to the committee for consideration."Tlio motion was carried. On tho motion of Miss Chaplin it was decided that a Recess Committee be set' up to consider the question of differenti-. ation in tho education of boys and girls. The committeo of schemes of control of secondary, schools presented its report. Tlio schemes provide 'the machinery for the election of members of boards, also tho courses of study which aro to be provided in the schools, the relations of principals and boards with regard to tho control and management of schools, and in some cases also provisions for tho election of chairmen for carrying on the business of tho boards. Tho committee recommended that the Minister bo advised to approve tho schemes as adopted by tho committeo. The committee further . recommended that some of the members of the governing bodies of girls' schools should be women. The report was adopted; Mr. C. H. Opio drew attention to the great numbers of-pupils who left the primary schools before they passed Standard Vl—many of them after passing Standard IV—and pointed out that many of them wished for further education in the ovenings. At present they had to pay for this education, and his idea was that tlio technical schools should ho made freo to them. Ho submitted a motion in tho direction- he had indicated. . Mr. G. Hogben pointed out that the 6ame object would be attained by making attendance ot continuation schools compulsory, under Section 124 of tho Education Act. Eventually the matter was referred to tho Recess Committee for consideration and report. The following committees were elected Agriculture, Messrs. Hogben (convenar), Banks, Opie, Wells, Fleming, and Franklyn, and Miss Myers; education of girls, Mrs. Talbot (convenor), Misses Cniiokshank ~ Myors, ~ Chaplin, Messrs. Hogbon, -Kirk, Fleming, and .Caughloy; University entrance,' Mr. Fleming, Professor Brown, Messrs. Hogben, Campbell, and Caughley; tests of mentality, medical inspections, etc., Miss Myers (convener), Messrs. Hogben, Wells, Kirk, Mrs. Talbot, Miss Chaplin; attendance at secondary schools, Messrs. Kirk (convener), Hon. J r , G. W. Aitken, Messrs. Banks," Hogben," Opie, an/I Campbell. Mr. Fleming drew attention to the difliculty in obtaining male teachers at presont owing to tho fact that somany had gone to tho war ( and it was impos- ' sible to obtain substitutes. The council camo to no decision on tho matter.

On the motion of Mr. Opio, seconded by tho Hon. Mr. Aitkon, it was rcsclved: "TJiat this council desires to record its acknowledgment of the valuable services rendered to education by Mr. Hogben, first and late Director of Education. In the devotion of his life to the building up of the education system of this country lie has put the Dominion under a lasting debt of gratitude. We trust ho may long bo Epared to assist tho Council of Education to still further the advance and interests of education." The council will meet again early nest year. .