TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

ELECTION OF CONTROLLING BODIES ( The ioint conference of members of : college boards and ' directors . of technical colleges concluded yesterday. Mr.' C. H. A. T. Opie, chairman of the Christchurch Technical College Board, presiding. Membership of Boards of Governors. Consideration-was given to a remit from Christchurch respecting the recent amendment to tho constitution of boards of governors whish limits the membership to nineteen. This amendment was considered unsatisfactory, 'and tho chairman, who dealt with the matter at some . length, said that thero must be somo radical alteration in the system of eleci tion to tho boards of management. Mr. T. Bollinger (Wellington) agreed •' that tho proposed alteration wasi by no means an improvement, and he advocated ; that tho boards should bo elected by tho people. \ Mr. 11. B. Bushbridgo (Christchurch) Raid that he understood that conference was agreed that the previous method waa the best, and anything that would tend to unset t'ho interest of contributing bodies should be deprecated. If it had • not. been for the contributing bpdies in 'Christchurch. the Christchurch Technical College would not be in the position it was to-day. . .

Mr. W. Fossey (Timaru)' considered that tho bost thing to soy was that tha conference did not ngreq 'with f)V« present svstom. He did not agree hoard of managers should havo' t'o'go cap in hand to tho contributing bodies for monev. The necessary funds should be provided by the Government. Dr.' iD. E. Hansen (Christchurch) agreed that the Government should find the monev to run the technical schools. He deprecated that Labour bodies should haye their interests in education- threatened. Tho representation on the boards had been given to people who did not remiiro it. and taken from people who did reauire it. Mr. Fossey said that his point ■was that he could not see why the hoards of governors of technical schools could not be olected in the same manner es scbool committees w?re elected. Mr. Angus Marshall (Dnnedin) considered that those who paid should have a voice in the election of the boardd. It was not the number of nineteen that ■was the trouble, but the manner in which that number was distributed.

Tho chairman said that lie was pre■pared to delete tha figure nineteen from the Temit. Conference agreed to this.

Mr. La Trobe said the Department was entirely and wholly in sympathy with those interested in education being fully represented on the boards of management. The difficulty of the Department was that the Act had to be administered ;• as it stood at present.; , Until a revision was Dossiblo it was necessary to carry i tho Divisions out. The regulations ! were mode with the sole object of .carry--1 ine out the Act in the "best interests of education. However, it was evident that an alteration in basis of the constitution of the boards was eminently desirable, and the deliberations of the confer- ' ence should pave a way for the betterment of the system. The speaker cited an instance in Christchurch where the ; number of contributing bodies was thirtyfour, and by the time the Education Board and the parents of pupils were represented on the board, the number, approximating seventy-four, was unwieldy. The.-'remit woe carried as amended. ■ Election of Controlling Bodies. ' Mr. G. J. Park (Wanganui) considered that the following motion, 'if carried and (riven effect, to, would result in a saving :in staffing and expenditure -generally: "That it is desirable that primary, secondary, and technical schools be control- ':' led by one.body, elected by the ratopay- • ens of-.-.the district." Ho further considered that..i|f suoh a course were adopted the efficiency would be generally raised, and a: local pride, of very considerable value, would follow. In seconding the motion, Mr. J: E. . Newton (Napier)-said that the duplication of local and Government bodies was a i farce. As far as his district was concerned one man might get upon several boards or governing boards. Mr. G. London (Petone) '.opposed the motion and submitted the following amendment: "That tho principle of representation must be the recognition of / the existence of wide and general interest in education and this result can l)e best attained by (l)'the continuanco ,of school committees, extending their activities to the Ideal supervision of primary, .secondary, and technical education: (2) the constitution of district education /"v. boards representing (a) school committees created into single constituencies, each returning one member, (b)- a representative of, the primary teaching staff,-such representative not to be-engaged in active teaching under the board, (c) a representative of tho secondary and technical teaching staff with similar • provision hs for primary teachers, (d) a re» , presentativo of employers employing apprentices. The total representation should consist of 12 members. There should be further constituted a Board of Advice and Control, representing tho educational needs of the Dominion, such rei presentation to comprise: (1) The elected representatives of boards of education, chosen at a triennial meeting of the boards of the Dominion, and (2) such representation as may be nominated, from time to time, by Parliament.or by representatives in the Government. It Bhould be affirmed that no candidate should bo eligible for election when representing two other. constituencies." . Mr. T. Scott (Dunedin)- did not like the word "ratepayers,".as he. considered that there would be considerable objection to it. If it were decided that, such hoards should, be elected by., ratepayer* it would' bo necessary to keep special Tolls of ratepayers. To his mjiid -it would be desirable to adopt, a system of election similar to that employed.in the election to the university councils. . , Mr. 1 Park agreed to delete the word •"ratepayers." Mr. H. R. Rushbridgo (Christchurch) regretted that the' timo of the conference was limited, as both motion and amendment required careful consideration. He would opposo both, as oonferi ence had not time to deal with such comprehensive proposals. Tho people of tho country were not properly.. 6cized with the seriousness of the work. In the next'generation, there would lie required people educated in the sciences and arts and crafts; therefore, it was now meat necessary that the young people shonld be educated up to the required standard. Ho did not think that this would follow by controlling the whole of the education in one district by ono body. Employers' representation was specified'in tho amendment, but there was no mention of trades representation, the inclu- ' sion of which he considered was essential. Dr. D. E Hansen (Christchurch) considered that the amendment was not . practicable, and therefore he would opposo it. At the same timo he was in • sympathy with both amendment and motion. He suggested a modification of the education board system to provide for tho election of secondary and technical representatives which might meet the case. '.'.. Mr.. La Trobo pointed out that as far as tho control of primary and technical schools was concerned the education board was charged with tho control of each equally. Mr. Angus Marshall (Dunedin) said that one control was required, and the motion provided for that. The amendment was lost on the voicps mid the motion was lost by 11 votes to 8. Representation on Council of Education. On, the motion of Mr. H. R. Rushbridgo (Christchurch) it was decided to recommend that technical schools should be granted separate representation on the Council of Education. The mover considered that the matter was one of supreme importance. The following remit from Napier, "That technical school boards have a voice in electing representatives on the university councils of their districts" was taken along with Mr. Rushbridgo's motion, and was carried, - . Daylight Continuation Classes, Mr. G. George (Auckland) moved the following motion: "That the Government be. urged to

make compulsory continuation classes during working hours for. all boys nnd girls up to the age of 18 years." In moving the motion, he said that ho was strongly opposed to, the present system of night classes, for they had a prejudicial effect upon the students' physical and general well-being. Although many speakers opined that employers would raiso strong objection to the system, it was admitted that its advantages would soon bo recognised and appreciated. Tho motion was carried. Other Business. The following remits wore passed;— That tlio standing of education boards as controlling authorities should bo abolished in the caso of .technical institutions incorporating technical high schools.— (Christchurch.) That the standing of education boards as controlling authorities should bo abolished in the case of technical institutions where organised day courses are carried on , ond. which have a recognised board of managers.—(Timaru.) That tho system whereby technical schools and technical high schools havo to depend to a great extent for their financial support on tlio donations' and subsidies thereon of private individuals or public bodies is unsatisfactory, as they may withhold their subscriptions at any time, and thus nnanciafiy embarrass tho institutions.—(Christchurch.) Similar remits expressing the. desirability of somo definite system of paymonts whoroby boards would be able to - finance salaries and general working expenses without depending up donations were received from Palmerston North, Napier, end Wanganui. Tha( boards of managers 1m empowered to pay tho travelling expenses of country members to andfrom meetings.—(lnvercargill.) That no teacher who 19 reguarly employed on a technical high school staff be appointed to a position in another technical high school until ho or she unserved, cuiitinuoiwly for one year in the one position.—(Napier,) That lie Department be strongly urged to regard an assembly room as an essential pair of a technical, high, or secondary school.—(Napier.) That ihe ''School Journal" be supplied free to fiiHi:-year pupils of technical, high, and secondary schools.—(Napier.) ' That tho Minister bq requested to amend the regulation so as to. include all technical (schools- where day' courses are carried on and the director is giving his whole timo to tin.- work— (Timaru.) That in any system ,J compulsory continuation classes, no suibject or subjects shall be compulsory unless tho timo of compulsory attendance exceeds five hours per week.—(Wanganui.) That it is essential that an aggressive policy in regard to ofirtcultural educa tion should be doveloped; that the present inadequate financo of technical high schools .prevents this in our schoola, and that the Minister of Agriculture be urged to pay to technical colleges for enci ■technical liigh school boy taking a reco."nised agricultural course a capitation equal to half that paid by the Education Department, and additional to it.(Wanganui.) Conference to bo Hold Annually. At the conclusion of the conference tho chairman said that it hud been of very great value. The liscussion had been on practical .and '=. iuon-seasa lines. Delegates were r -' ted to tho Department jor. the atteiUmiiee of Mr. W. S. l.ii Trobe, and he desired to congratulate that jgntleman upon the position he had reached. Ho desired also to thank tho managers of tho Education Board for tho use of the room. The speaker llien moved that such a conference be an annual allr.ir. Votes of thanks to the chair, tho Christchurch Technical College Board for instituting ■. tho conference, to the Education Board for the' use of tho room, and to the Pr&ss' concluded the conference.