EDUCATION POLICY.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1926, Page 4

EDUCATION POLICY.

MR CAUGILLEY RETURNS FROM AUSTRALIA. WELLINGTON, June L Benefits of immense value to the New Zeaftind Education Department arc expected to be derived from ilie recent conference of State Directors of Education held at Brisbane, according to tho observations made after arrival at Wellington to-day by Mr J. G'aughlev, Director of Educution. who represented New Zealand at the conference.

Mr Caughloy said that the direct purpose of liis visit was to lattend the conference at Brisbane of the Directors of Education of all the fdtates in Australia and of New Zealand. A wide range of topics was discussed, the conference extending over about a fortnight. The result would bo of immense vj.iittc to everybody concerned. A number of problems arising in each State were more or less common to all and those attending the gathering had the advantage of seeing the diflerent angle from which they were approached, and the different solutions which were being applied in many oases.

The present policy was guided necessarily by the previous history of education in the State. In Victoria and New South Wales to a very large extent secondary education was in the hands of private institutions, the Government's entrance into this field being *a late development. In New Zealand, on the other band, the very reverse was the case. “Another striking difference,” added Mr Cauglilcy, “is the fact that in Australia all administration of education is centralised n a he.ul office. There is no equivalent to our education hoards, high selio >1 hoards or technical school hoards and only to a very small extent is there an equivalent to our school committees.”

Revelling to the conference. Mr Cauglilcy said that, although the circumstances were so widely difleient, a great many tajualtle suggestions to every State arose through the (klegates seeing the general principles upon which each State was acting, and the part iciiVir method by which they met the conditions of the day and of the State. “As far as New Zealand is concerned,” said the Dire* tor, * i am quite satisfied that the isit .il be of immense value to the Deal tluonl. As was slid hy a speaker at file Rotary Club luncli to-day. life is too short to endeavour to solve probloins through one’s own exporioiKM alone. My attendance at this conference gave me the benefit of the experience of six other States under a wide variety of conditions. The visit will be particularly valuable in connection with the question of the better articulation of tho primary and secondary courses of instruction. We have tentatively approached this problem through the junior high school system, but its wide and more general nppliiJ.it.ioii presents very many problems on which tho experience of the States of Australia throw a good deal of light, although we cannot always adopt their methods.”

Mr CaUglov said that ho was impressed with the generosity and hospitality of all the Australians with whom ho came in contact, particularly those in Queensland and New foulh Wales. He was treated not only as an educational official, but as .i New Zealander. At the conclusion of Ihe conference, Mr Cauglilcy spoil I l ( 'ii days in New South Wales going into matters ell adminisirnlioii with the Director of Education there and visited a considerable number of postprimary institutions of various and somewhat novel types. With regard to matters of detail and policy. Mr Cauglilcy intimated (bat these would be the subject of a report, which would be laid before fho Minister of Education at an early date. Mr tangliicy was accompanied by .Mrs Cauglilcy on the visit.