EDUCATION COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 320, 9 July 1912, Page 5

EDUCATION COMMISSION

WELLINGTON SITTINGS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. I The Education Commission has. opened its Wellington sittings. ' Robert Lee, chairman of .the Wellington Hoard, formerly chief inspector for 28 years, said that in his opinion the Council of Education should determine J what were essential subjects. The council should be representative of all State educational institutions, and should ap- ■ point departmental officers, principals of ; colleges, and inspectors of schools. The scope of boards should be enlarged. We, should go slower and so allow of children getting a thorough grounding. Mr. Fleming, chief inspector, said that the present syllabus was on the right lines. He opposed the Dominion promotion scheme. F. Bakewell, inspector, favored one sscemo of grading for the primary teachers in the Dominion, also complete reform in the matter of teachers' certificates. The undue prominence attached to what might he purely adventitious university qualifications had had the distinctly mischievous effect of encouraging teachers to look to mere academic distinction as a means of promotion rather than to professional studies and practical teaching, efficiency and experience. Witness considered the whole educational system suffered from the examination incubus.