THE EDUCATION REPORT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 489, 7 August 1912, Page 5

THE EDUCATION REPORT.

AN ADVISORY COUNCIL.

FIVE BOARDS ADVISED

LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. Following ia a summary of the report of the Education Commission, laid on the table of the House of Representatives to-day:— The recommendations of your Commission embody proposals for the revision of the whole system of primary, technical, and secondary education, on lines which should give continuity of government from Minister to School Committees, retaining the maximum of local interest while ensuring complete responsibility in every grade of activity. The constitution of a Council of Education, five Education .Boards. School Boards in large centres, and School Committees for. scattered districts should be an ideal method of dealing with what we I consider is the most important branch of local government in the Dominion, whlie the proposals for encouraging local contributions to the cost of education, and protection of the system in more remote localities, should ensure the establishment qf the greatest facilities for carrying on our education system, without trenching too largely upon the public purse. Your Commissioners recommend

the appointment of a Council of Edu

cation, to consist of fifteen members, and to be called "The Council of National Education," the following members of Council to be appointed by the Government in Council:— Minister of Education, who shall be chairman, Director of Education, Supervisor of Technical Education, and two representatives of the producing industries of the Dominion, together with ten other members, whu shall be elected as under. One by the inspectoral staffs of the several Education Boards of the Dominion, one by each of the proposed five Education Boards, two certificated teachers employed in primary schools, one to represent the North Island and the I other the South Island, one by certificated teachers employed in secondary schools and one by the Senate of the Univeristy of New Zealand, the non-official and elective members of the Council to be paid out of consolidated revenue a sum to cover all travelling expenses reasonably in curred by them, both in attending meetings of Council and transacting business thereof, together with such sums for each attendance at such meetings as the Governor-in-Council may from time to time direct. The powers, duties and functions of the Council to be :

I. To report to Minister and advise him upon methods for devlopments in State education in other countries which, in the opinion of the Council can be advantageously introduced into the Dominion.

2. To report to Minister on any question relating to national education.

3. To report to Minister on all questions relating to administration of national education within the Dominion, as well as to co-ordination of all branches of such education.

4. To prepare a uniform code of regulations (dealing with guiding principles but omitting details) referring to school curricula," school attendance, staffing of schools, classification of teachers, making provision for payment of inspectors' and teachers' salaries, for the cost of transferring teachers, and for conveyance and board for pupils, for grants for scholarships and free places, for control of training colleges, for the maintenance of higher education, and for control of other institutions administered by the Department, the Council to furnish to the Minister for presentation to Parliament a report covering their operations for each year

ended 31st December, such report to be presented to Parliament not later

than July. The Council to meet half-yearly, and at such times as the Minister may direct. Education Boards should be reduced from thirteen to five; one for Auck-

land as now; one for Wanganui, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay; one for Wel-

lington, Nelson and Marlborough; one for Canterbury, Westland and Grey; one for Otago and Southland. Each

board to have 12 members elected

for three on adult suffrage, the chairman to be paid. These boards are to have right of control over primary, secondary and technical education, and native

school. School boards of seven members should be established in boroughs of over 8000, and may be established in smaller places if a majority of elec-

tors desire. The funds to consist of

a capitation of 5s per pupil, such grant may b9 made by the education boards, Government subsidy of £ for

£ on amounts raised by voluntary subscription, Government subsidy for

£2 to every £1 raised by local rates or contirbuted by local bodies, and of £ for £ donated by request. These boards should have the right to set up

special committees and co-operate with any persons specially qualified to act thereon. Where practicable, education boards should divide that por-

tion of their district not in the school

board district into districts containing not less than two nor more than ten

schools, for which the electors should, appoint themselves, the committees, the education boards to prescribe by regulation the duties of these committees.

Recommendations in the matter of grading and promotion of teachers and other details in connection with the working of the department are made. It is proposed to abolish district high schools in favour of attendance at technical schools, and the setting up of two agricultural colleges—in each in North and South Islapds.

The Commission's report concluded with eulogies of the services rendered the Commission by Mr G. Hogben, In-spector-General, and Mr De Castro, secretary.