TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 5

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS

MANY REMITS'ADOPTED

Tlio annual mepting of tho Now Zealand Technical School Teachers' Association which is beiiip; held at the Technical ColleM, Wellington, was continued yesterday under tho presidency of Mr. A. L. Moore. Many remits, the majority of which orovoked keen discussion, wero carried. The meetins affirmed: "That all teachers in technical schools who are engaged for not less than twenty hours per week, whether employed directly or indirectly by tho education boards, shall lie eligible to vote at the election of members of Council of Education." A number of remits were adopted relative to technical students' hours and training seiierally, ns follow:—(1) "That full (lav-time education bo compulsory up to tho ozc of sixteen years; (2) that, except in country districts, all boys and trirls shall, between the ages of 10 and 18, receive _ day-time instruction for not less thaiv eisrht hoiirs a week for at least thirty weeks a year; (3) that students leaving tho primary schools be directed as to their future course of education— such directions to lie made by a small ndvisorv committee, after taking into consideration the probable future vocation of the child; (4) that a syllabus of work, similar to that used in primary schools lie drawn up for technical schools, and, with a view to greater weight to technical school certificates, a board of e.-.aminers be set up; (5) that provision be ma do for the adequate training in teacliins of assistants in , technical schools: (G) that trade apprentices be reouired to attend technical classes and receivo training therein during tho period of apprenticeship for at least one lialfday per week." The conference also decided that power he out iu the hands of education boards and managers of technical and secondary schools to prohibit, certain children from employment out of school hours; and that, no child should be employed for more than eight hours per day, inclusive of school hours, and, further, that paraeranh i of the regulations for attendance' at .continuation and technical • classes gazetted May 15, 1919, is unworkable, inasmuch «s the compulsory course laid down prevents sufficient attention being '.riven to tlio wishes of tho parents or the needs of the child." ( Other resolutions wero passed as follow :—That separate representation on tho Council of Education be given to technical school teachers and boards of governors ; that the principle of tho co-ordin-ation of all grades of education bo affirmoil—nnd that the institution of one contiolling authority in each district for all State-controlled schools and colleges be aoproved as a step in this direction; that the Minister of ]sducation be asked to inerenso (ho capitation to manual training classes, and that this associaiion respectfully urges that the capitation bo made up to at least =C 1; that the Minisfe,r of Education bo asked to pay tho maintenance grant of .CMC now paid to technical high schools to all technical schools wlwrc day classes are carried on, and the director is giving his wliolo time to Ihe work of the school. The conference derided thnt the president and tho secretary of tho executive of its association be resident in one centre or district., and that a meeting of the executive be held in f-'eptembcr of each vear to consider remits ,to be forwarded to the annual meeting of tho N.Z.E.I.