Education Department.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1921, Page 3

Education Department.

JOURNAL FOR '1 IiKLS. WELLINGTON, October 12. The official intimation tbit the Ecluc.ition Department bus been authorised to issue monthly a small journal jor circulation to teachers, has in one rr lev,, cpiarters met with some criticism ; iv L . the Hon. (’. .1. I’arr. 'llm objections made to the issue n| the Journal are ebietlv bused on eciilsiclerations cil evunomv. though some criticisms have* relation to a liege I centralisation. A* to economy, the Minister points nut that the whole cost ol the production w ill he less than MOO per annum It will consist of only twelve pages id letterpress. No special stall will he required and some ol the cost will he met by revenue from advertisements Tims there need he no lear that, as was suggested at the meeting of tlie Otago Education Board, the proposal would tend towards lime creation cd a special department, with a head and a big salary Tlie whole cost will therefore be less tbull ball tile salary of a school inspector. But it will add considerably to tlie value of ihe work dime by each mm of the ins]s'ctors. numbering over 50. The Education Department issues the syllabus of instruction guiding till' teaching in primary schools, and the inspectors who are Departmental officers, are charged with the duty of seeing that the aims of the syllabus arc carried into cllcct by the teachers. The Journal about to be published by tlie Department will scive largely to supplement the "Holts ol the teachers to meet the requirements of the syllabus. The visits of the inspectors of the schools are often limited ~s to time, and they have too little opportunity for setting out. in detail before teachers many points regarding school practice. The Departmental Journal will bring before teachers from time to time, and place cm permanent record many lmlplu] points regarding school work. Arrangements are being made for the monthly publication of tile vacant positions throughout New Zealand for which teachers may desire to apply. This is necessary the Minister says, if the teachers lln cuiglioiit New Zealand are to be really able to apply for positions in any district in New Zealand. This was the purpose of the amending legislation which eaiim into elfeet on June Ist, last and which for the first time really established a Dominion system of ap-

pointment and promotion c>| te.aeiiers broking down tin' provincial and district barriers which up to that time had existed "Already within the past three months.” said tile Minister. ”we have eflVcted economies in the Department resulting in the saving of some thousands of pounds a year, which would pay for the Journal ten times ovo r.”