EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2216, 24 April 1880, Page 2

EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

£. A conference of Chairmen of South Canterbury School Committees was held to-day at the Public School. About a dozen gentlemen were present, and Mr 11. J>. Waleot (Timaru) was voted to the chair. The Chairman, in opening - the proceedings, said that the idea of holding the present conference had been suggested by a similar meeting in North Canterbury. Mr A. Wilson (Temuka) remarked that he held perhaps extreme views, but he had studied very carefully the suggestion he was about to introduce to the Committee. Tins was the abolition of all Boards of Education with the exception of a central Board at Wellington. In advocating such a step lie was actuated by no animus or ill-feeling against any member of the South Canterbury Hoard. But there were things taking place that the gentlemen present to-day could not approve of. He would propose the following resolution: "That in the opinion of this conference all existing Boards of Education should be abolished, and that a Council of Education be established at "Wellington, having the supervision of all public schools in the colony, and that extended powers as to management &c. should be given to local Committees." Considrablo discussion ensued during which the -Chairman remarked that the priuciplc referred to in the resolution was working most successfully in England, in Victoria, and in Now South Wales; and if the scheme was found to work successfully in a colony like Victoria surely it would be found to answer in jNcw Zealand. The general feeling of the meeting Mas, however, decided against the reform advocated by Mr Wilson, and the resolution was lost. A long discussion then ensued with reference to the Education Act, and its connection with the appointment of teachers. intimately it was resolved that the i;"Hh clause of the Act should be amended, and Use following words added to it :—" Ami in the event of any conllict arising between the Council and the Board as to the appointment, suspension, or dismissal of any teacher, the same shall be reported to" the Minister for Education, whose decision shall be linal."

It was further resolved “ That clause 50 of the Act be amended, and any person who shall be absent from three con seen 11 re meetings of the Committee of which ho is a member, without the consent of the Committee, shall forfeit his scat.”

The question of religions training in schools, and the advisablcucss of introducing Jiiblc reading, and the read-

ing of prayers in the school-room was then discussed. There seemed to be a good deal of divergence of opinion as to whether the Bible should be read with or without comment. Ultimately the following resolution was proposed and carried—“ That in the opinion of this meeting a clause should be inserted in the Act, providing that all schools be opened by the reading of the Lord’s prayer and a chapter of the Bible without comment, but that no child be compelled to be present at such time whose parents and guardians object.” The following resolution was then carried unanimously—“ That members of school committees be elected for two years, four to go out of office one year, and three the next.” The Conference shortly afterwards terminated.