EDUCATION. The Salaries Question.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 17, 27 October 1900, Page 6

EDUCATION. The Salaries Question.

IT is not surprising that the scheme for giving all the school teachers throughout New Zealand uniformity of salaries should have fallen through. The merits of uniformity are, of course, obvious. Uniformity spells justice to the teachers, and in the process makes to the lives of many of them the difference between the possible and impossible. This the House undoubtedly recognises. But there is one thing which it recognises no less and feels a great deal more — and that is the conflict between the principles of centralism and local self - government. The Bill made a bold bid at centralism — was, in fact, centralism pure and undefiled. Therefore the House would have none of it. On their side, too, the Education Boards made stringent demonstrations, and these had, of course, their effect on the representative Chamber. The Bill emerged, therefore, in a condition not recognisable by its own mother. * * * When one comes to think of the history of the Education system of New Zealand, one can realise that no other course was possible to the House. Conceived in the spirit of local government, the system was born in Nelson, was cradled in the provinces, and adopted, after it had grown up, by the colony after the date of Provincial Abolition. But, before its adoption, the system had become " the Ark of the Covenant, and the motto on its doors was " Disturb me not ! " The leading features in each province were the School Committee, the Education Board, and the Provincial Government. The School Committees supplied the local details, the Board obeyed them in most things while leading them on broad lines of policy, and the Treasury simply found the money. Nelson htt upon this combination first, and every provincial community snowed its capacity for self-government by adopting it with eagerness. Naturally, when they agreed to federate, the unwritten stipulation was that the Ark of the Covenant must be left intact. Thus the independence of the School Committees, the power of the Education Boards, and the subserviency of the Treasury were all preserved in the Education Act of 1877. Hence, when the Bill came down the other day it proved a bombshell.

It is, of course, obvious that there is a great deal to be said on both sides of this question. It is a question with many whether there is not a great deal too much local government in the education system ; more than is compatible with the efficiency of the education which it is the business of the system to impart. That, however, is a question which ought to be faced squarely, and discussed on its merits fairly. It would have been improper to discuss it by a side wind. The House felt this, and took care that no harm should result to the cause from its mutilation of the Bill. Hence, the capitation is increased for twelve months, and while the Boards are comfortable the Department can think the thing out once more. Let it be thought out in a franker spirit next time.