SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 9

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

ASSISTANT TEACHERS CONFER FREEDOM AND DISCIPLINE POINTS MADE BY PRESIDENT The annual conference of the Secondary Schools’ Assistants’ Association of New Zealand opened yesterday morning at Wellington College. The president, Mr. R. M. Laing, M.A., of Christchurch, was in the chair, and nearly 50 delegates were present. In opening the proceedings the chairman said that since the last meeting a great deal of work had been accomplished. The classification scheme for which they had been battling for so long, under the direction of Mr. I’. Martyn Benner, had become an accomplished fact. The Government and tho Department had met them in a very fnir spirit, and whnt had been obtained was all that was probably expected. He was of opinion that a time of intense depression was to be expected, and in view of this no further requests should be made at present for any largo modifications in the scheme. The Government could not be asked to increase materially its financial difficulties. The chairman went on to say that there was far too much centralisation in education, and that the general public should take more interest in the schools round about them. The executive, ha said, would bring before the meeting proposals to make modifications of th« constitution. Concluding, he advocated closer co-ordination between the various departments of education. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr. F. M. Renner was re-elected secretary to the association. Presidential Address.

In his presidential address the chairman confined his remarks to “some thoughts on freedom and discipline in education.” The greatest need of our schools to-day was, he said, spiritualisation and proper emotional background. This was not to be obtained by “Scripture teaching,” or any such ineffectual method. It could only Ire secured by the reconstruction of many of our ideals of education, "How are we,” he continued, “to preserve for the pupils in our schools that .liberty of opinion, that freedom of choice,, which is so necessary to each in his development? The main influences in the growing child’s mental life are his parents, the school, the streets, the church, the playing fields, his companions, and, I am afraid to-day, the picture show. Now, the school should bo one of the strongest of these influences; but the dull and barren intellectualism of our schools often reduces their influence to a minimum. Yet what a power might they not be.” Elaborating his point, Mr. Laing stated flhat under the control of a militarist Government the outlook of the German nation was completely altered in a single generation, and it was generally recognised that this was largely due through the educational system. Ho merely used this as an illustration of how important it was that wo should realise, the sacredness of tho child lilo wo were detailing’ with, and that it should be abhorrent for us to endeavour to mould that life further than towards the universally recognised ideals of righteousness and truth. If we went beyond this we would be invading the child’s freedom, and this neither teacher nor parent should attempt to do. We had no right to colour tho child’s mind in tho direction of any political or theological creed. The highest aim of education was variety, not unity, and we were very far from having realised this aim. One of the . most justifiable complaints against our system of education was that it turned out classes of one pattern, and not of individual children. This was one of the fruits of excessively large classes in the primary schools. In emphasising that certain teachings obviously violated the principle of complete liberty of opin. ion in schools, Mr. Laing said there was in England a large, signifi-

ennt, anti growing body of opinion

which mistrusted such doctrines as those put forth by the Nn.vy League. We had no right to make of eduration a political institution to form habits nnd circumscribe knowledge in such a way as to make one. set of opinions inevitable. As long as a number- of parents held certain denominational views, they would require their children to be taught these opinions; nor could ho see that the State had any right to interfere with such teaching, provided always that the children were taught os well tho«e elements of education which the State required. Tn dealing with discipline he said there, wore two main types: (1) The discipline in which the will of the individual was completely abrogated to authority, and the discipline which was self-control. He went on to point out that in schools external authority should be eliminated, .and replaced by "'government from within.” This should provide that democratic freedom for the pupil that would best enable him to de. ▼elop a sense of responsibility and further provide him room to grow in moral stature. Remits Adopted. Many remits were discussed. Those adopted included the following: That teachers should bo allowed to appeal not only against their grade, but also against position in any grade. That returned soldier teachers in secondary schools be allowed the same concession as to their teaching service as is allowed to returned soldier teachers in primary schools: viz., that each year of war service count as two years for grading and superannuation. That the Minister be requested to amend clause 16 of the regulations, as follows; The services of each full-time assistant shall be at the disposal of the board of governors for 30 hours per week for the performance of duties commonly required of secondary school teachers, provided that all non-resident teachers, who take part in the supervision of hoarders at. preparation or in the boardinghouse or elsewhere shall receive a remuneration equal to that paid to technical school teachers for work done after 6 p.m. That the Minister be urgently requested to amend clauses 18 and 19 of the regulations issued December 8, 1920. In such manner as to make it perfectly clear that no board i.s expected to dismiss any teacher should a school fall in grade, nnd further, that any teacher affected by a fall in grade of his school shall have the option of accepting either (1) a lower salary in his own school. Or (2) a transfer to such a position in another school ns carries with it the same salary as the position in his for mor school. Tn case of a transfer, removal expenses shall he paid by the Department. Various other remits touching (-lassi flcation and grading were adopted or reaffirmed, including one urging that, the salaries of women entrants into secondary schools be raised io .£2OO. .The association also affirmed the principle that the salaries of secondary school teachers should be fixed I>v Parliamentary Statute, and not by Deportmental regulations. Another remit iidopti-d urged that n more liberal scale of staffing be granted. The question of setting up a transfer and promotion board was left in the hapds of the incoming executive, with Instructions to report to the local branches. Election of Officers. Offices for the ensuing year were ele.etKa.s follow:—President., Mr. It. M. Ing, M.A. (Christchurch); vice-presi-

dent, Miss N. fl. 'Coad, M.A. (Wellington)-, hon. secretary and frc.-i-urcr, Mr. I’. Martyn Remien, M.A. (Wellington); hon. auditor, M 5-. W. A. Alexander, M.A., LL.B. (Wellington)-. executive, Messrs. B. IL Camjpbell. M.A. (Dunedin); A. C. Gifford, M.-.A. (Wellington); 11. Carrodus, B.Sc. (Auckland); 11. Bobeon. M.A. (81-enheifni) and IL H. llcckel, M.A. (New Plymcjith). The business of; the conference was brouglit to a close/nt a late hour.