SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 13

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

TODAY'S DECISIONS

The Dominion Conference of delegates of school committees was continued today under the chairmanship of Mr. T. W. Onglcy (Wellington).

The following motions were can-icd

unanimously:—

That it is in the test interests of primary education to allow trainees to serve a probationary year in primary schools before going to college in preference to degree students being appointed without any practical work m primary schools and that wo support any efforts education boards make ill this direction. That this conference requests tno Minister and Director of Education to amend regulations governing the appointment of teachers with a view to making them "more elastic and giving the committees the privilege of a selection (say, three) of the highest graded, unless special qualifications are attached to appointment. ThatMhe Minister of Education be requested to base the staffing of all primary schools on roll number■ as at March 1 in each year, instead of on the average attendance for the year ending in August. •, That representations be made to the Minister and Director of Education urging the early appointment of a commission to prepare manuscript for a new series of text books, such manuscript to become the property of the Department of Education, and that the printing and publishing be submitted to open tender within the Dominion. That the previous conference's request for a revision of school text books, and that printing be done under public tender, he reaffirmed. That this conference does not favour any further consolidation of schools unless the Education Department guarantees the whole cost of conveyance of the children, independent of the special grants to such consolidated schools. That the Department bo urged to reinstate the subsidy on money raised locally for school requisites at the earliest possible; moment.

That the Minister •of Education be asked to assist the South Island schools in the purchasing of fuel by making a special grant for that purpose. That more equipment and materials for manual training centres in the primary schools should be provided.

That a strong appeal be made to the Minister of Education for increased capitation for primary school committees' needs.

That, in view of the withdrawal of subsidies, all school material for infant class work, and science;work in district high schools, should be supplied at the Department's cost.

That the Minister of Justice be asked to reconsider the restrictions imposed on school committees, in , connection with the holding of euchre parties in aid ■^f school funds.

On the motion of Mr. Ongley, It was ►decided to.ask the Minister of Education to extend the life of school committees by providing for the retirement of one half of a committee each year, the retiring members to bo eligible for re-election.

A motion was carried this afternoon forming the conference into a body to bo known as the Dominion Federation of School Committees' Associations. Mr. J. W. Preen (South Canterbury) wag elected president of the Dominion federation, and it was decided to hold the next conference at Timaru in August, 1934. -