EDUCATIONAL REFORMS.

Shannon News, 6 November 1928, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL REFORMS.

CANDIDATES MEET TEACHERS.

On Saturday morning the members of the Horowhenua branch of the New Zealand Teachers' Institute met at the Levin School for the purpose of placing before the Parliamentary candidates in the Manawatu and Otaki electorates certain matters affecting the welfare of the children and teachers. Mr J. Linklater, M.P., Mr J. H. Taylor and Mr A. B. Sievwright were the only candidates present, apologies for absence being received from Messrs W. Field M.P., P. Small, H. McManaway, and H. Dyson. Mr A. W. Hutchings, district representative on the Wellington Education Board, and Mr T. Hobson, Mayor of Levin, were also present. The president of the Institute, Mr H. G. B. McDonald presided and briefly explained the purpose of the meeting. SMALLER CLASSES.

The first speaker was Mr J. Casey (Levin) who spoke on the size of classes. He said that one of the main planks of the Institute was the reduction of the size of the classes, which they would like reduced to 35 and ultimately to 30. He asked the candidates to consider the matter from tli3 children's point of view and not that of the teachers. They were .satisfied that the product from the schools would be better. The object was to do away with mass instruction and substitute individual teaching, as they held that the character of the child should be made positive. He claimed that smaller classes would bring many advantages, one of which would be a reduction in the cost of education, the cost per child to-day being about £l3. The school life would also be reduced by one year. Agriculture and trades could then be taught thus allowing a child to follow his or her bent, With classes of 60 or 70 pupils this is impossible. ' SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

Mr A. J. Graham (Waikanae) then eealt with the ve-modelling of school buildings. "If we are going to have smaller classes," he said, "the present class rooms will be too large, which means reconstruction. In that case the partitions would have to be pulled down and reconstructed." He said the Minister had already agreed' to do this in several cases, and he hoped that members would advocate reconstruction, so long as the Department thought it necessary. "We want the children," he said, "to educate themselves and not have to be forced by the teachers. "- He oointed out that infants were always pleased to do their work and it was sad in life to see children in the mass lose their keenness. Smaller classes were a necessity and to enable this to be done teachers were quite willing to put up with the noise brought about by altering the rooms. SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ALLOWANCES. Mr F. 11. Taylor (Shannon), dealing with allowance's tol school, committees, said the Institute did not regard this matter as a parochial one, but as a National one, as it was so vital to the young. Local administration was hampered on account of the insufficient means at its disposal. It was impossible for committees to carry out their duties and pay their way out of capitation. The capitation lb secondary schools was £l. while to primary schools it was 10s and down as low as 3s in scho'ols of Grades b - and 7. Why should the allowance for primary schools not. be the same as that for secondary schools. The health and comfort of the children had to receive the same consideration, such as sanitation, water supply, etc. One school committee requiring" a septic tank had been notified bv the Department that they would 'have to contribute £BO towards the cost before'it' would be installed. In replv to Mr Linklater he stated he was referring to the Shannon School. Continuing, Mr Taylor said this should not be so; The Department had refused to pay the sanitation fees and water charge "at this school, which ultimateiv the Borough, Council had remitted." Yet all the other Government Departments paid their own fees and charges. The Education Department was the only department where the public was called upon to pay- The departmental heads had referred to the Inauguration of the new syllabus as the dawn of a new era hi education, but if they were to reap its full benefits a more generous provision must be'made in the future to enable school committees to adequately provide for the Health and comfort of the pupils. "Our greatest asset is the child and we, as parents, teachers and citizens trust that our liabilities to the child will be realised as never before." TEACHERS' GRADING.

''The question of teachers' grading was brought forward by Mr J. Marsh (Levin), who pointed oat the unfairness of the difference in salaries between the headmaster of a district high school and that of a high school. He said that the highest assistant m the former was in Grade 3, the salary being £430, and that on promotion to Grade 4 as headmaster his salary only increased to £465. and it took him three years to get that. He contended that the difference in salary was too small when one took into account the increased responsibilities, the cost of removal and probably the sale of a home. The headmaster 'of a high school received over £2OO per year more and ne asked why the headmaster of a district high school should not raeeive about the same salary as they had practically the same work and responsibilities. He also wanted to know why the married allowance to technical instructors should not be raised from £4O to £SO, the same as other teachers. RIGHT OF APPEAL.

Mr A. T. White (Shannon) brought forward the matter of right of appeal against non-appointment. He said the action of Parliament recently . gave a decided opinion on this. Teachers asked for justice only and they wanted to know why they could not get this. The whole question, was one of inconsistency. Grading was done by the inspectors,

yet the Department allowed officials to override them. This action was really a slur against inspectors by inspectors. At present a Wellington inspector could give preference against an Otago inspector to a, teacher with lower grading. Teachers with only one mark higher should have the appointment. The Institute asked that this should be made possible. Inspectors could depart from this rule when appointments might be made as special appointments. It was those which were not special ones for which they wanted justice. He trusted members would support them in this, as all they asked for was justice, and also to know that they had the right .of appeal agajilnst non-ap-pointment. EDUCATIONAL CONSOLIDATION.

Mr R. J. Foss (Levin) then took th-2 opportunity of extending a welcome to Messrs Linklater, Hutchings and Hobson, who he said were all stout supporters of education, and to Messrs Sievwright and Taylor, prospective members of Parliament. He thought such a conference would in a manner be helpful to both parties. Referring to the Education Act, he said, provision was made for continuation from primary to secondary schools by free places. What they ask was that the Act be one of unity and no£ made up of a number of entities. A Consolidation Act. was overdue. He specially thanked Messrs (Casey, Graham and Taylor for presenting the case of the child and not that of .the teacher. CANDIDATES' R)PLIES.

Mr J. Linklater. M.P., said he appreciated the privilege of meeting the teachers in conference, which he had \ found most instructive. He wanted to say that in each case* he was sympathetic on all points. He was fully in accord, with the case sot out by Mr. Casey that the classes'be reduced as. soon' as possible. They would realise that it was due to great expenditure that it was not being carried out, The annual cost, of education was four millions to-day and it was still rising. As far as remodelling the buildings' was concerned, the Department's ideas were changing, rapidly. ,Open-air schools were coming into favour. The Government was doing its best in tackling the worst buildings in the Dominion. He was in sympathy with Mr Taylor re school committee allowances. As regards salaries in the higher ranks he had realised they did not pay as good a salary to good men as compared with some mercantile firms. He hoped that salaries would be increased. Referring to the right of appeal against nonappointment he did not see why they should not have that right, the same as other Departments. He again thanked the Institute for' the privilege of being present, hoping'that the future would bring better facilities for both scholars and teachers. Mr A. B. Sievwright, in returning thanks, congratulated the various speakers on the way they had put forward their case. He said he was in sympathy with the primary . teachers and education and that lie was. a product "of our national education system. The present law, he said, relating to education was passed in 1877, the principal Act in 1014 and it was amended in 1919. •If teachers knew the Act they were clever people. He pointed out that Orders in Council-had priority over the wishes of the people. These autocratic methods ,of Government were Wrong and undemocratic. He agreed with Mr Fo.ss that a Consolidation Act. V».i long overdue. This matter should be taken up by the Institute. His sympathies were with the aims and objects of the Institute. Mr J. H. Taylor said that, after hearing the different views, he could assure' ithein that as far as the Labour Party was concerned every child would have the chance to get To* the top of the tree if it. had the ability. He was strongly in favour of teachers receiving justice in respect to appointments. "We have to' look after the "children from the 'lime they leave the cradle till they take their place in the world," he said. . REAL GRIEVANCES. Mr Hutchings said he took a great interest in education as children should have every opportunity to receive a ■good education to help them in life. He was satisfied the teachers had real grievances and -in regard to the right of appeal they had a strong case. He ! favoured increased expenditure, smaller •lasses and better environment. He would not like to see the-Teachers' Institute enter into politics. He thought the teachers had the sympathy of the Department and Board, as all right thinking men and women were out to do the best they could for the childlen [ The Mayor of Levin, Mr T. Hobson, I in returning thanks, said all were out i to do their best to help the children and teachers. Education was the greatest factor in the whole world. His Council would always help them to the best, of their ability and he would at all. times be only too pleased to do everything in his power to further the cause of education.