SCHOOL REFORMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 9

SCHOOL REFORMS

-Press Associalion.)

Committeemen Discuss • Remits DAY-LIGHT SAVING TERM

(By Telesraph-

NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. ' The business sessions . of the conference of the New Zealand Federation of School Committees' Associations eoncluded to-day. Christchurch was selected as the venne of the next conference. The oincers elected were: PresLdent, Mr. R. S. H. Buchanan (Christchurch); senior vice-president, Mrs. W. H. Fortune (Auckland) ; junior vicepresident, Mr. A. E. Morgau (West Coast) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. Nuttall (Canterbury) ; Parliamentayy committoc, Messrs. F. H. Porter (chRirman), J. Fyfe and E. Miller (Wellington) ; Canterbury executive, Messrs. C. R. N. Mackie, E. Burgess, A. E. Thompson, G. H. Harrison and E. Prebble; associate executive, Messrs. J. N. Preen (South Canterbury), J. Walker (Southland), A. E. Morgan (Westlaud) and Rev. Y, Graham (Otago). A remit suggesting that the timo of daylight saving bc a'tcred so that it commenced on the iirst Sunday of October and ended on the last Sunday in March evoked a difference of opinion. The labour problem on farms was advaneed by country delegates as a reason for shortening the daylight saviug period by a month. An amendment to the effect that in country districts it should be the prerogative of school committees to open school at 9.30 a.m. during the period of daylight saving was carried. Relaxation by hospital boards for three years of the practice of debarring from the nursing profession applicanis who have received no more than a prirn- ■ ary school education was strongly advocated. Among the remits affirmed were those urging that the size of classes be limitcd to 35; that the Education Department be urged to undertake a system of modernising furnitnre and equipment in . primary schools; that the appointment of teachers be made as from the beginning of each school year; that the Government be urged to revert to the original system of free dental treatment; that travelling dental clinics be provided in country districts; that kindergarten classes be established whqrever there are sufficient children to form such class*-:. The conference supported a Temit from the west coast "that a school leaving certificato be adopted as the standard of attainment for entrance to the public service and all other professions • where a university degrce is not a necessity. If a board of inspectors oi the Education Department were to sfet examination papers for the certiflcatev if would obviate the higb fee charged by the university authorities and the requirements of the majority of pupiis receiving secondary education would be met. The conference adopted an Auckland remit suggesting that swimming instruction be included in the school curriculum and that where possible ■ practical instruction be given in lifesaving and artiiicial respiration. Where the facilities are not available land drill shonld be given. The conference whole-heartedly supported the movement for the introduction of visual education into primary schools. ( It was also decided to ask the Educa- ! tion Department to consider making ] provision for suitable- instruction by I wireless. Grcater attention, it was con- ■ j sidered, should be given in all schools i to the teaching of oral English, ) • ^