THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 11

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

EDUCATION REFORM AND TEACHERS' SALARIES ANNUAL REPORT OF TERRACE SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The annual rcppit ' ol' the 'I'cithcu School Committee «tate> that during Hie first pnrt of the year tho general, health of tho pupils whs very good, reflecting on the atleiulniico, which (luring that time wns nil that coukl be desired.. I'vom July omVnrd, with general sickness and hunieroua cases of influenza, the school Miffeied •in comniou with ' tlie rest of New Zealand. Jt is worthy of mention, showing the activities of the committee, thiit in November prior to the outbreak o# the epidemic the committee fisked the hoard' to' have all ..the room* in every school fumigated, and suggested the purchase of'a vacuum cleaner for use in the city schools. During the time the school was closed the whole' o'f the interior was wanted and thoroughly cleansed and disinfected.

The old boys of the. school are arranging to suitably conuneiuorato the names of the old,pupils who have fallen in the:war, and tiie incoming committee will see to it that their efforts are heartily supported and assisted.. During the year it was found that Uio infant room was quite inadequate, and application was made to the board.to have if increased. A reply was. received in December Inst statins that the board could not. -nndcrtako alterations on acc'.unt of the fact that at the present "tfoie-additional-accommodation is being provided at Kelburii, which may eltect tU'ii attendance, of the Teh-ace School. The question of:a' school, playground has-constantly been before .the committee. ;but it regrets' that: nothing definite has vet been done. A sub-committee waite-d on the Education Board, aud'atfked it to obtain, the tennis court for ths school. So far, however, nothing line ■been done. ' This mutter has now received the 'attention of the school .committee for- many years past, and it is felt that-a special effort must be made I during this coming year- to get the bov- ! eminent to arrange for proper , playj crounds for the children..... The public" are waking up to tho fact that not only I does a child 'require a decent school to i work in., but ..must have adequate and proper ground to play m. School Reforms. ■;.

Mrs. Snow- .and- ■Mr. Ward were appointed .representatives- on ■ the School Committees' Association. This association had arrange! for a conference ot the. various school associations throughout New Zealand,.and tlii Terrace Committee , had submitted' -he following remits/for consideration by/that body:— (1) "That, the tmiu baa arrived when our national system of education and the I oentrol thereof requires to bo remodelled, I and in order to arrive at the very best '■ luethod possible, M».| Government be re!ci ups led to set-up an advisory- hoard comI posed-of-representatives selected, by the I various schoo!- 'Committees, ■•education. 1 nurd?, school teachers' institutes, uni- ! vi-vsity professors, ch.i.nbers of commerce, Labour organisations, and ether bodies, .so. that tiio board shall be as representative as possible. This beard I shall recommend to Parliament a fcheme of free, secular, ami compulsory eduea- ' lion, from 'the,kindergarten to-the TJniI versity, with 'free uniform boons as far us is possible printed by the . Governi nieiit Printer. "It shall also recommend I n nii'thod of control that will be as democratic as ressible, and not dependent iiiion the whims of t;iiy particular Jlinistflr- of the Crown." ■ . , ' (21 "That the present method of appointing members of the education huardts h undemocratic, and likely to 1,1,1,1 to nbu-e in so far as it is possible for one body to practically control, the election of the board. • In the opinion of this committee members of the education boards should be elected on a much I wiilei franchise." j. (3) "That the Terrace School Comm:t- - ! U-e views with alarm the gradual deprei nation of the tenchinjj stall of the primI iiry schools of tlie Dominion, Hie prin- ! cirle cause 0.l which is the inadequate rein up.orn lion offered to citizens to adopt ! teaching as a profession." (-1) "That in the opinion of (his com- , l'eitrec. education boam-i should provide ( for use in the various j I(Schools, and (hat the children should bo ; ! given at least oiu hour, ii week lesson by ( i means of these moving pictures." , !' (51 • "That in the opinion of this comi iniltes the Govevnnijmt should at oneo { : j p> into Die. (jiiesfion of providing, udeiiuate playinw grounds for nil schools , throughout the Dominion, and that , I where future school sites »vo purchased ] i if: should be a .set principle that sufhi eimt playing ground for .uture increase ; I j of oltpminnce should be jiroviiloil." j (fi; "That in the opinion of this nicet- | ! ing the system of- paying .teachers v acI ; voiding to the averiige attendance is un- .-' fair alike to children fliul to teachers, ; and, irrespective of the amount of money i Hint niav be called on for additional 1 Piilaries. it is in'our opinion opportune j I for this system to be abolished. ,, '_ . (7) "That in the opinion of this -committee no class should contain i.-ore than ''thirty pupils, lu our opinion it is iiunossi'blo for any teachers to do justice | In his-or her work iviln a class oi a lafßcr size." . •ffi) "That the Terrace hchool toraniittco draws attcnlion to .the desks used bv the higher standards' , , which are illiiwnv ca?B-too small for the comfort ot 1 thb lar«or children." Teachers' Institute Campaign. TJifi New Zealand Education liistituto l'MCiitlv forwarded a circular letter rejiiirdiiiß educiition as affecting the leaclii ;ng profession. ' The recommendations as '< att out in that circular received the syin- ■' liiithetic -6iip))ort of the committee, lhe recommendations were as under:— "But. more than all these, regard must nti had to the supply of good -readier," in I siiimcient numbers. In this reepeet tho )v)3irion of the cducatioii system is' one of great danger, and vliis danger arises from the condition of the teaching .pfplcsisi on itself. Public statements of the I Minister of-.Education,'school inspectors, ami education boards show— "(a) That insufficient applicants arc offering for the teti'.'hing service. "(b.) That the number of men w oilerini: is f=o small as to. bo almost negligible. "(c) That the best material from our primary niul secondary schools' is not ioining the teaching nervice. '■ . - ' (A) "That about one-third of the.teach-sfs-at-.present in tho service ore niicerhUraK'di > ■ ■■.-■ ■'•""' V-y'r •■' , - ■ ' ' . • "Tho great' majority of. those teachers: ure in fmnll country fichools."■■,' ■'<■, Three'things : thc jucmninj,' , committee : must, if they are alive at all to the inter-: sst of education,■attend to,'are:— ■ ; : ■ (1) To prevent'ovei'croffdiiiij in schools. ft!) AdMiuate refniMU-rab'oii of teachers. (3) AdOdiiato plny'sroiinds'.-: ' V : The riuestion of fijiiincc should not enter into consideration in deaJingi'witlii those Ihreo , malterc.'.and' it -behoves' parents to insist on the children irecOiving proper consideration in regard to theso three essentials. ■ -.

ROSENEATH COMMITTEE. Tho nominations received for tho Roseneath Committee are just sufficient to till, the committee, so.no election will be necessary. Tho new committee is as nmlM'-.-Jlrs.E. Low, Messrs. H- W. Morrison, H. A. Lines, 11. W. Tolan, C. W.' Bear, S.' Snndorhind, 1). Wilson, H. R. van Borssum, R. R. Crcrai'.