EDUCATION PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 22 May 1916, Page 3

EDUCATION PROBLEMS

'5N SECONDARY SCHOOLS SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM A deputation from the N.Z. Secondary Schools" Conference waited on the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) on Saturday, awl represented certain matters discussed, at tho recent conference. Mr. Morrell (Otago lioys' High School) stated that they recognised the force of the plea lor closer harmony and better co-ordination among tile various educalumal associations of the Dominion. The subject was approaohed in a spirit of friendliness, but il was felt that to some extent it would be wise to hasten slowly with tho idea that this might lead to a better ground of unity in the end. The Standing Committee has been given power to make arrangements to make any arrangements that might from time to time be deemed advisable for joint action and co-operation between tho conference and the N.Z. Educational Institute, and, indeed, with other educational associations. It was felt that, the representation allotted to secondary education on tho. Council of Education as at present constituted was inadequate. They thought that technical and secondary sohools should have separate representation. While secondary schools' representatives would he carefully watched, ho considered that principals of 6uch schools should have a place on the council, and when an amendment of tho Act was introduced altering* tno constitution, these points should be considered. It was also considered that tho heads of secondary schools should bo represented on the University Senate. This would tend to closer feeling and better co-operation. The conference considered tho time inopportune for putting into force any compulsory _ measure regarding length of stay of pupils entering secondary schools. They were also opposed to requiring parents to enter into a guarantee that pupils shonltt remain at school for a certain period. They were in favour of junior free place pupils' being encouraged to enter the secondary schools at earlier ages' by. giving f» all children under 13 on December 1 preceding entry a third year as-a matter of right; also by lowering to 11 yea-rB, after due notice, the ago for eligibility to a junior free place on a certificate of proficiency in the case of pupils attending primary schools in the four chief centres. Ho recognised that if the' age were lowered generally it would prove a hardship to country schools.' No hardship would be inflicted lu the large cities. -. He considered that the proviso for a free place candidate to obtain 30 per cent.' in aritlimetio should be relaxed; many pupils who would profit by a coulee in'a secondary eohool, and who were well suited for it' by their literary attainments, find difficulty to jfot the w.'quired marks in arithmetic owing to being disconcerted ait examinations. Ho did not think it desirable' to lower tho general standard in arithmetic in primary schools, nor would this proposal tend to teachers giving less attention to this subjcct.

In regard to railway tickets lie desired that they should bo issued for each school term instead of as at present. It was_ also desirable that they should be available for travel on Saturdays when beys were taking part in organised school games of Cadet drill and shooting. Tho boys-should ba encouraged to take a proper share in the life of tho school even outside of the class-room.. This' was part of tho training nccessary for the making of useful citizens. , The' conference considered tiiat some, thing should be done towards the cen, sorship of films. Some of the picturw had a debasing influence on tho morals of some of the scholars. He hoped thoMinister would use his influence in this direction with the Miuister of InternalAffairs. Director of. Education Explains. T)r Anderson stated that tho Eaihvay Department consistently objected to ox tending tho iise of tickets to Saturdays. The Education Department at present paid a fixed rate for certain privileges, ana if these were extended tho cost would have to be increased. He thought that where tho Defence Department re., quired the boys to parado they should bear tho cost. He realised tho import, ance of encouraging the boys. and girl& to take part In organised games, but tho possibility of abuse of the tickets had to be 'considered. Inquiries on this point and also in regard to the issue of tickets for a term instead -of quarterly as now would be made. In regard to extending the term of three years to junior free place pupils, he said the limit used to be 14 years, but was extended to 15! Personally he was favourable to children entering secondary schools at an earlier age. Where a headmaster recommended extending the term it had never, been refused. Ho did not think, it was desirablo to alter the present regulations granting this as a matter of right. So far as notifying' primary school teachers .of the conditions -under which pupils might enter secondary schools, the Education Do?artment had printed on many of its orms issued to teachers nil these particulars, and no difficulty should be experienced by scholars in obtaining information on these points. His personal opnion was that tho constitution of. the Council of Education should be altered. Ho did not think that the members pos. sessed the qualifications and standing neccssary to deal from a witle national standpoint with the many matters that were brought before the council. The reason for joining the secondary and 'technical schools in regard to representation on the council was on account of tho comparative smallness of the number of teachers and separate representation would be too large.. Besides it was fur. ther considered that secondary and technical education should not be separated. The objection raised by them was similar to that raised by tho technical school teachers. Minister in Reply. The Minister, in replying, said that ho was pleased to notice tlie desire on their part, to bring about a proper co-ordina-tion of the different parts of the education system. He noticed that in their remarks there was manifested a desire to make the Council of Education and Uni. versity Senate wider and more representative of the various educational interests. lie was desirous of doing what he could in the direction they had indicated. Having regard to the council as at present constituted, he recognised that it was not as well proportioned as might ba in-regard to the representation of the various branches of education. Ho agreed that thoy had made out a good , case in regard to. better representation for technical and secondary schools. He would bear their views in mind. He wished to see the Council of Education reliect thb various phases of education in the country. Thesa remarks also applied to the Senate. • « In regard to the freo place system, ho felt compelled to remark that something should bo done u> place matters on a better footing. He had already received a largo nuiinber of communications appreciating the views he had recently expressed on the subject. The representations mntle by the conference would provo helpful, and he- would give consideration to them, with other views which the Director (Dr. Anderson) might make. He was not disposed to hold over those reforms. A strong feeling existed that they wero not getting value for the amount expend, ed ou the free place system. With regard to lowering thfc murks for arithmetic, ho could not say that he was in agreement with their views. He was. more irclined to a stiffening up of English awl arithmetic for tho freo place system. He would go into this matter later on. A question that had to receive smious attontion was'the policy and motive of our technical schools and secondary schools. What should be their respective functions? Overlapping obtained in some districts between these schools. The functions should be defined for each. Ho wisliod to call attention to the slovenly vending and speaking found on the part of young people in.tho Dominion. In the Old Country and Australia, Ministers of Education were calling attention to this weakness.. In some schools ho noticed marked weakness in regard to articulation, enunciation, and pronunciation. It was very nice to have read Latin and Greek, but bettor ; far should have a thorough knowledge of - their mother tongue. It was true that students in secondary schools and colleges had the 1 abilitv to eiDre.w themselves fully and

olearly ill written composition, but when it came to speaking or oral production with liueucy and force there was a great weakness. The width and quality of their vocabulary was poor. This was true ol many teachers, university prolcssors, and educated men. The fact was that they had not been taught to express their thoughts orally as well as oil paper in u clear and intelligent manner. It was a subject of comment that many who hud received the benefits of higher education had not a higher degree of facility and lucidity of speech to give expression to thoir knowledge and inlorniation. Tlio neglect of the mother tongue was one of the greatest defects in our schools throughout the Empire. In respect tu High Schools, more attention should bo paid to oral work in English. English and science should receive moro attention,

In conclusion the Minister stated that the points raised by tlio deputation in regard to railway tickets would receive consideration, lie strongly the pupils taking an interest in the life of tile school outside of tlio class-rooms. He believed tho time would conio when examinations would bo conducted oil the all-round ability of scholars both inside of tho rooms and tho school-grounds, as well a3 their conduct when away from tho school. He had in his mind the conditions attaching to the . Rhodes Scholarships. Tho deputation thanked the Minister for the opportunity afforded them, and also for the keen interest he had taken in their representations.