EDUCATION COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 302, 18 June 1912, Page 5

EDUCATION COMMISSION

TRIBUTE TO THE PRESS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Monday. Giving evidence before the Education Commission, Mr. Milner, rector of the Waitaki Boys' High School, advocated instruction with regard to sexual physiology by qualified teachers of both sexes. He advocated that all teachers passing through training colleges should lie taught the principles of total abstinence from liquor. He approved of the recent action of the Education Department in this relation, and strongly favored vocational studies, -especially with regard to the mother tongue and agriculture. He paid a high tribute to the daily press of the Dominion, which, by reason of the broad outlook and knowledge of Imperial questions, supplied the best possible text-book. The ignorance of colonial history, especially relating to Britain's colonial policy, was lamentable.

EXPERT EVIDENCE. » Dunedin, Last Night. At the Education Commission Mr. S. M. Park, secretary of the Otago Education Board, expressed the opinion that the number of returns required from teachers and boards was excessive. In the Dominion 0450 hours of the teachers' time was occupied in making unnecessary returns. The grant for free school books should be abolished, as 75 per cent, of the children still provided their own books. Mr. C. E. Richardson, Chief Inspector of Schools, said that during the last twelve years the increase in the cost of education had been sis follows:—Primary 75 per cent., secondary 238 per cent., university and higher technical education 158 per cent., industrial schools 180 per cent., special deaf, blind, and defective schools 366 per cent. The cost of technical education had increased tenfold. The policy of the Department in regard to primary education had been progressive, and in the main the administration had been in the direction of increased efficiency. The finances of secondary schools had been rendered more stable, and an avenue had been opened to a large number to whom it would otherwise have been closed. If the agricultural and rural course was to produce full effect, provision must be made for the appointment of a thoroughly-quali-fied teacher to each school. The salaries of the nrst and second assistants should be materially increased. The number of seholarships should be increased, but free places should be materially decreased. The system of professional teaching at training colleges needed remodelling. The Department should take immediate steps to increase the supply of teachers. The present training colleges were inadequate to cope with the work, and if auxiliary institutions were established for, say, three years, the difficulty would be overcome.' The witness condemned the present basis of payment of teachers, and said that teachers were not well enough paid. Child labor existed to a degree in Otago that required looking into. It was mostly in the towns.