EDUCATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 November 1907, Page 2

EDUCATION

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. A general discussion on current education topics was raised in the House of Representatives on Thursday on the motion for the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill. Hon. (i. Fowlds, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said it was practically the same measure as had been introduced last session. There were certain additions, one of which was that the definition of public schools included high schools. The age of candidates for junior national scholarships was raised from 13 to 14 years. The Bill also provided for the removal of certain restrictions in regard to Queen's scholarships. Mr Malcolm urged that more adequate remuneration should be paid to teachers.

Mr Poland said £BS per annum was not fair remuneration for teachers. He adversely criticised the School Journal, and said it would have to be much improved if it were to take the place of school books.

Mr T. Mackenzie urged that the House, should insist on the question of education being considered fully at an early stage of next session. He advocated, that there should be some certainty as to teachers' salaries, and to bring this about he suggested that schools should be elassilied so tliat teachers could be assured of some permanency ot income.

Mr Mandcr, in supporting the demand for increased remuneration for teachers, said that a bush cook would not work for the salary paid to some teachers. Mr Laurenson pointed out that during eight years the education vote had increased from £400,000 per annum to £700,000, and .salaries had been) increased, Jmt not to the extent he would like to see. However, he congratulated the Department on what it had done. He contended that the teaching profession was the most important one in the Dominion, and lie regretted that the prizes offered were not of a more sub-, stnntial character. Ho urged that the salaries of lower-paid teachers should be increased.

Mr Here* urged that the manv in- | .I'ls-ttctfs under which teachers of native schools suffered should be remedied. Hon. G. Fowlds, in reply, said that, as to salaries, he proposed to go into the matter and lay definite proposals before the House next session. Referring to stall's, he said there 'had been the same sort of scare that was now being raised m years before, but when they came to consider the matter there was no case in which the staff or salaries had been reduced unless a fa]ling-o|T in attendance, had taken place for two years. Referring to the School Journal, he said that he hnd testimony from teachers who were highly satisfied with the publication. Ho could not go into the whole of the anomalies alleged to exist, but he hoped to go into the subject in h comprehensive manner next session. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. • T^U!*