The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY. JUNE 13, 1913 EFFICIENCY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 33, 13 June 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY. JUNE 13, 1913 EFFICIENCY.

TJio efficiency of private scnools from the educational standpoint is a matter of very considerable importance, primarily to the children attending such schools and incidentally to tiro Dominion as a whole. That the De-

partment is becoming more alive to tiiis aspect is apparent by tire recent activity shown and the movement I made by Education Boards in differj cut parts of New Zealand towards eu-i | stiring that every child resident in | the laud shall at least have equal opj portunity of efficient teaching. Jn j their annual report to the Chairman ! of the Taranaki Education Board, pre- | seated by Inspectors W. A. Ballau- | tyne and 11. G. Whetter, at the beI ginning of the present year, the matter—so far as this district is concerned—was brought prominently forward, it is provided in section 10l of the Education Act that “if ten or more children resident in any school district are on tire roll of any school other than a public school, the Head 1 earlier of such school may apply lor ami receive from the education Board, a general certificate of exemption from attendance at a public school for such children upon satisfying the Board that efficient and regular instruction is given at such school.” A certificate nf exemption, as above referred to. holds good for nno year only, and the Taranaki Board's Inspectors, having this in mind, told Die Board that they were strongly of opinion that no exemption should be granted unless a school is visited regularly by the Board's inspectors, as is already the 1 practice in some other districts. At

;i remit mooting of the Taranaki Board the matter was under discussion, and on the motion of Messrs W. MeL. Kennedy and R. Masters, it was resolved to fall into lino with other Boards and widen tho sphere of influence to embrace private schools gen-

orally, members realising that it is the' Department's evident intention to: make individual Hoards responsible for all the children in their respective' districts. The Truant Inspector has,] in accordance, made visits to the pri-| vato schools in this district, and this; week was in Stratford, if certificates' of exemption are not held by the au-| thorities controlling these schools, the) pupils will immediately come under! the truancy clauses of the Act, and! the usual warnings to parents and, il unheeded, subsequent prosecutions, will follow in the ordinary course. It is merely that all concerned may he fully aware of the position that we now place it before our readers. There are many admirable private schools which have every right to exist, and for them the road is clear. Section 170 of the Act provides that where the teacher or managers of any private school desire to have such school inspected by an Inspector, such teacher or managers may apply to tlie Board to authorise such inspection, and the Board shall thereupon arrange for"tho inspection of such school, such inspection to ho conducted in like manner as the inspection of public schools.