Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY', JULY 8th, 1918. EDUCATIONAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY', JULY Bth, 1918. EDUCATIONAL.

The Council of Education which concluded its sitting at. Wellington last week agreed upon a number of matters for the improvement of the educational system of which the following recommendations were made to he Govern-ment-:—That in view of the great distances traversed by country children attending secondary schools, it is essential that school hostels be established in all the. large centres as soon as possible, and that t-lie same principle be adopted in the case of Training Colleges where the necessities are equally urgent.. That it shall be compulsory for every boy and girl between the ages of 14 and 17 years.living within three miles of technical and continuation classes to attend such classes for not less than 120 hours a year (say, three

hours a week for forty wc&ks (in the year), unless such a hoy or girl is already receiving suitable instruction elsewhere. The classes referred to should be held during the day time, exceptin cases where permission to hold them at other times is given hv the director in accordance with the regulations. That tho conditions of clause X shall bo deemed to be fulfilled by attendance at a secondary school, technical high school, or district high school for an equal period ns from 9 a.m., to noon on .Saturday. That where required for the purpose of giving effect to clause 1, classes shall he established ai all pul> lie schools above grade 3\, and may lie established in schools of lower grades where possible. That 10 per cent with a minimum of £3q be added to the salaries of teachers taking up Iho work. That agriculture or domestic science be regarded as a compulsory subject for the teachers’ examinations. ' That employers be required to give facilities for the attendance of such persons at such classes on one half-day in each week or the equivalent thereof as approved by the Director of 'Education in accordance with the regulations. Special stress should he laid on the teaching of domestic science in the case of girls who have not chosen a definite occupation and on the teaching of agriculture in the case of hoys who are similarly situated. The council considers that the non-education of hoys and girls be-

tween the ages of 14 and 17 constitutes a menace, to the welfare of the country. That with a view to improving the stalling in the larger primary schools, the process of substituting assistants for pupil teachers be continued in accordance with part 1 of flu 1 Fifth Schedule to the Act with the least possible- delay. Salaries aiul allowances of probationers and pupil-teachers be not- less than the salaries and allowances to cadets of the same standing in the Public Service. Either instead of or supplementary to the present system of obtaining entrants to the teaching profession inducements should bo given bv grants of bursaries, in addition to free education to pupils of not less than t wo years’ standing in a secondary school, technical high school, or a district high school. The power given under the .Education Act and its amendments for the establishment of subsidiary schools be put into operation with the least possible delay. That with a view to increasing the number of apprentice teachers ihe following temporary expedients he adopted:—(a) Release from the obligations from attendance at a training college al tlie end of their course of any ap prentice teachers who are specially recommended by the senior inspector of the. the district and that the period for completion of their , training be extended. (b) Making the allowances paid to students entering the training colleges under Division A or Division B equal to the salary and allowance paid to the pupil teachers in their fourth year, (c) Allow training college students (both Division A and Division B) subject to regulations to divide their course so that they may extend their two years' training over n longer period than two years and be available in the intervals between the. several parts of their course to take temporary positions in schools. That, the present regulations limiting the number of B students be relaxed (see Regulation 19). (d) That pupil teachers who at- the

end of their two years of service have - qualified in scholarship for entry to a training college, although the term of pupil toaehership has not Ivcen completed, he admitted thereto forthwith if they are so recommended by the senior inspector of the district. That the increase of staffs in schools ns proscribed by the sixth column to the fifth schedule to the Act should be in schools of grade 6 and 7; and further that in the ease of a rapidly increasing school the staff should he increased earlier than is provide for in Table B of the Regulations for the staffing of schools. That the staff of inspectors be increased and the salaries of inspectors and especially those of the chief and senior inspectors he materially increased. Conference of inspectors (including medical inspectors, and teachers to be. held periodically at which the reports on educational progress and the success or otherwise of methods and schemes be discussed. That the-council J urges upon the Government the. nec- ( csfiit.y of making provision without' delay for more adequate space in buildings and play-grounds and more attention to the. sanitary conditions of the buildings. That the training and guidance of inexperienced teachers in small schools he provided for by the appointment of a number of young teachers of special promise and suitable experience! to act as organising teachers for selected groups of schools within each of the education districts, and that the necessary legislation be taken at the earliest moment to enable such appointments to be made.