THE EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 212, 28 August 1908, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL.

BEFORE THJi HOUSE. (SPEECH BY MR. FOWLDS, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In moving the committal of the Education Bill, Mr. Fowlds said the measure made a great improvement in the Education Act, and would make a great improvement in tte education system of the Dominion. The object!, were to improve the status of teachers and increase the stalling of schools, and both would be' to the benefit of the educational system. It was advisable to limit ihe number of uncertificated teachers, and encourage t'iie teac'hers to go ill for certificates. The training colleges, he believed, were capable of training all the teachers required for the Dominion. The proportion of male teachers was satisfactory. The new scale provided not only for an increase of salaries but for a better System of promotion. Mr. Fowlds quoted statistics showing that ttlie sal- . aries paid in the Dominion compare favorably with those paid in England. Further, it was provided that no teach- ; er's salary should be reduced for two years after a grade had been decreased owing to tlie fall in ulie average at£ | tendance. The Minister contended that the average attendance was tli? best basis on which to calculate the size and importance of a School, but j pointed out that salaries did not under j the present regulations vary witli Itie j variation in average attendance. The largest proportion of increased salaries provided by the Bill was naturally J given to those in small schools. Tlie Bill provided! a fixed salary for teach-

ers in schools wivli over nine children. One feature of the Bill was tihat the salary increased even though the teacher remained in the same position. No Scheme of promotion of teachers could possibly succeed unless boards had the power to transfer teachers. He maintained that committees would be ill a better position than -before. It was a legitimate thing to trust the boards with powers contained in the Bill. Tliev would nut dare do anything improper. Teachers had to be chosen with consideration for particular fitness i of positions. It was proposed to substitute adult for pupil teachers, and when the second schedule came into opera tion it would be necessary to have 725 adult teachers.