TEACHERS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 193, 4 January 1913, Page 7

TEACHERS' CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY'S SESSION. PROPOSED COUNCIL OF EDUCATION. The conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute was resumed yesterday morning, under the presidency of Mr. J. Caughley.

EXECUTIVE'S REPORT. The report of the Executive for the year 1912 was tabled. The Executive has much pleasure in presenting its report on the work of the Intsitute for the year 191*2. J. iiough no very important achievements have to be recorded it lias been a year of preparation for great events to the Executive and the District Institutes have had much to do in this direction. Full meetings of the Executive were held on January <> and December 31.

Membership of the Institute. —The Treasurer's returns for the year ending December 31. l'H2. show that 27*25 members have been paid for by District Institutes, as compared with 2ti33 in the previous year, an increase of 9*2. The Executive points out that, in accordance with clauses 17 and 11 of the constitution, it is the duty of District Institute treasurers to send to the treasurer of the Institute the names of "all" members on their rolls, together with the levy of 5s for each such member. Investment of Trust Funds. —The Trustees have much pleasure in presenting the following statement regarding the Trust Funds of the Institute:—

TRUST ACCOUNT. Cr.—To balance Public Trust Office. Wellington, as at November 30, 1911. £1313 18s 7d; to further deposit Public Trust Office, Wellington, £210; to interest on deposit Public Trust Office on November 30, 1912. £59 12s 3d; to balance Post Office .Savings" Bank, Wellington, ft» 13s od. to interest on deposit Post Office Savings Bank to December 31, 1911, 14s Bd, £7 8s Id; total £1590 19s Id.

Dr. —By withdrawal from Public Trust Office £250; by deposit in Public Trust Office, Wellington, at November 30, 1912, as per statement. £1333 lis, by deposit P.O. Savings Bank, Wellington, £7 8s Id, £1340 19s Id: total. £1590 19s Id.

Benevolent Fund. —The amount standing to the credit of this fund is now £407 las lid. The Education Commission. —The outstanding feature of the year from an educational point of view was the setting up of a Royal Commission on education to enquire into the working of the system as a whole, and to suggest amendments. In this connection the executive feels it is a matter for congratulation that two of the members of that commission were two such well-known members of the N.Z.EJ. as Messrs. Davidson and Wells. The thankß of the institute are due to those gentlemen for their advocacy of the just claims of their fellow teachers, and it is doubtless due to this that so many of the reforms degired by the X.Z.E.I, are recommended in the report of the commission. As the report of the Commission will form the chief flatter for discussion at this annual meeting it is unnecessary to do more here than briefly summarise the principal recommendations of the Commission, as follows: (a) A Council of Education to be established. ' (b) Five education districts, instead of thirteen.

(c) School boards and group committees to replace present committees. (fl). Grading schemes for each district. (e) Increase of salaries in certain grades of schools, and the reduction of the limit for the highest grade from COO to 500. (f) The position of infant mistress to b« clearly defined. (g) Re-modelling of the syllabus. (h) Reform in the method of paying the expenses of manual and technical instruction. (i) Better methods of agricultural education. ' (j) Increase in the salaries of sec ondary assistants in District High Schools, and the abolition of the special allowance to head teachers of these schools. (k) More attention to the facts of sex in education. (1) Consolidation of schools. (m) Abolition of the present system of scholarships in favor of a single examination for free places, and the granting of boarding allowances where necessarv.

Promotion Scheme. —The Executive is pleased to record further advance towards the adoption of a Dominion promotion scheme. The principle lia.s received the approval of the Education ) Commission: and to the districts already possessing local schemes it is pleasing to record that the Nelson and Hawkc's Bay districts are now to be added. Legislation and Superannuation. — Legislation, so fir as it alfects teachers in primary schools, has been unimportant. In view of the condition of affairs in general politics tins is not to be won dered at. The only matters of general interest are the partial demilitarisation of the junior cadets, and the institution rtf a system of phy.-ical training for all the children in the schools. It all'ords the Executive gnat, pleasure to be able to report that at last the option is to be allowed to tho-c teachers who have bten excluded from the superannuation fund of coming in under conditions which have lately Ixcn gazetted. Stagpoofe Appeal Case.—The last act of the Executive of 1!1I1 was to sanction the taking tip of an appeal against dismissal on behalf of Mr. T. Stagpoole. of the Wanganui district. The Executive asked Mr. 11. D. Stewart, of Auckland, to conduct Uie case, and he gave to 't the most assiduous care and attention, but, unfortunately, he was not successful. The case was drawn out to inordinate length, two long adjournments intervening, an 1 was eventually decided against the appellant, with costs against the Institute. The costs were very heavy, and the legal assistance fund has suffered severely in consequence. The tests and expenses on the appellant s side amounted to £11') lis Id. and in addition the (oiirt awarded in costs and fees £'2o7 !'s -Id. Owing to an error of the Court in making the order for costs against the Institute, which was not before the Court, instead of against the appellant, this order cannot be enforced, and it is quite within the option of the Institute to pay or not pay ail or any part of it. The Executive considers* that, to preserve the good name j of the Institute for fair dealing, all the costs that might fairly have been allowed should be paid. Expenses and allowances to the amount of £S!t lis 4d | have therefore been passed for payment, while certain fec«. totalling £75 l'2s, not authorised by the Act. have been disallowed, and certain expenses of officials which seem to be put down at an excessive amount have been held over for further consultation. These last amount to £42 Bs. Change of Minister. —As is well known to members, there have been changes in the office of Minister of Education. The Hon. T. Mackenzie was succeeded early in the year by the Hon. J. A. Ilanan.j who a few months afterwards gave idace' to the Hon. James Allen. During Mr. Allen's absence in England the administration of the affairs of the Department is in the hands of the Hon. H. D. I»ell, and the Exccu'.ivc has reason to believe

that the same cordial relations as liave existed between the Department an<l the Institute in the past will continue in the future. T Interview with the Minister— in the month of May,according to the usual month of Maw according to the usual Minister, the ilon, J. A. Hanan, and laid before liini the results of the deliberations of the Institute at its last annual meeting. The Minister gave a very attentive and sympathetic healing lo what the Executive had to say, and promised to give the most careful attention to the representations made to him. Medical Inspection of School Children. —This year has seen the putting into practice' of a reform that the Institute has long been demanding—the appointing of medical inspectors. This marks the commencement of a system which, if properly administered, is sure to be of immense benefit to tile futuie citizens of this Dominion. It is perhaps a matter for regret that the assistance of some teacher or teachers of standing was not brought into requisition in drafting the scheme, as thereby some initial errors illicit easilv have been avoided, but it is °a great" thing that a start should liave been made, and time and experience may be relied upon to remove defects.

The Future.—Til view of great possibilities of development in the immediate future, the Executive feels bound to urge upon all members to assist in increasing the membership of the Institute for the purpose of strengthening its influence. Four questions of importance to the .profession are occupying the thoughts of those interested in schools and school work at the present time, viz.. a Dominion promotion scheme, increase of salaries, Bible- lessons in schools, and the proposed Council of Education. To each and all of these questions teachers should give most serious consideration.

The report was adopted, after considerable discussion 111 committee. .SCHOOLS IX ENGLAND. A comprehensive review of the work in the schools in England was given by Mr. Cutler, in the course of an interesting paper, read at the invitation of the chairman.

I In answer to questions, Mr. Cutler j said that the maximum salary in Eng- , land for headmasters was £3OO, and £220 for assistants. In most cases the I attendance had nothing to do with the , salaries. In his experience, the religious ! question was not a factor in the appoint--1 ment of teachers at "provided" schools, at which Bible instruction was imparted. There was a conscience clause, but those teachers who took advantage of it were looked down upon with ridicule. The principal Board of Education was not elected, appointments being made by the Government of the day. On the whole women's salaries were less than the men's. In a girls' school the teachers were entirely females; but this jwa3 not always so in boys' schools. Tljere was no teachers' court of appeal, and cases of appeal against dismissal werq fouglit out in the law courts by the Teachers' Union, very often \yith success. Everything was provided free to the children, who did not even have to buy a nib. There was no State aid for any schools outside the ordinary schools. ! It was compulsory for children to attend when five years of age, and at fourteen they were free to leave. There were continuation schools in the evening, at which attendance was only optional. Holidays aggregated eight weeks in the year. The infant schools were kindergarten .schools. On the motion of Mr. Flux, Mr. Cutler was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his address, which, judging by the number of questions asked, was very interesting. ADMINISTRATIVE OR ADVISORY?

Discussion was then resiimed on the remit moved on Thursday by Mr. Parkinson, on behalf of the Wellington branch, that the Institute should adopt as the objective of its future efforts the establishing of a Council of Education with administrative, not merely advisory, powers.

.Mr. Wells said that tlio question of an advisory v. administrative council was keenly fought out in the preparation of the report by the Education Commission. Personally, he had voted in favor of the latter. .As far as he could see from his association on the Commission, the great difficulty of an administrative 'council would he the enormous sum of; money tnat would be at the disposal of a body pot directly responsible to Parliament. On the whole, however, he was convinced that if the proposed council of education were really going to exercise the good influence that was so urgently required, it should certainly be administrative, not merely advisory. Mr. Cousins said that the main fault of the system of education was itwant of system—-its lack' of eo-ortliuts-tion. In making reforms, however, it was not safe to kick awav the stone on which they were standing, and make a frantic leap to somewhere else. It was not within the realms of practical politics to suggest that, the whole system should be thrown into the melting pot. Tin; ideal outlined I lie previous day by Ylr. Parkinson should, be approached cautiously, not in a pell-mell rush. If an administrative Council were set up, the whole of 1 in* time of it, members would be taken up. and they would become very much oilicials. as Mr. Uogben, the Inspector-General of Schools, was. it would be far betier to have an advisory council, all experts in their particular line, who a, a council would give the .Mini-;er Hie beneiit of their crystallised knowledge. lie moved an amendment. stril.'ng out the words, "administrative. v I merely." from the remit, thus just ,t,jesting a council with advisory powers.

The amendment was seconded by Mr. (j. Lippiatt, of Auckland. PRESENT SYSTEM CONDEMNED. Traversing the arguments of previous

-peakers. Mr. Parkinson -aid hi' did not think any Council, however constituted, would make a "worse hash" of the education system than was being made at the present time. One of bis main objects in urging, the Council was that there should lie no divisions at all. As to its composition, lie had purposely avoided discus,ion of details, but had fastened hi, mind on the principle involved. Tiie Institute had already constituted itself an advisory council, and very often it found itself giving unsolicited advice. An advisory council would lie a nebulous sort of a body, capable of doing a certain amount of good, but handicapped through not having the power to put its recommendations into effect, and therefore there was a danger that many of these might be lost sight of. Tn Engl a nil there was the Hoard of Trade, which regulated commercial activities, the Peiard of Agriculture and the J!oard of Education. which guided the administration of educational affairs, though not to the same extent as that of the proposed council. What was wanted was a council that would not only advise and evolve a comprehensive scheme of instruction from kindergarten to University, but also provide the machinery for carrying it out. attend itself to the business of appointing and transferring teachers, and everything connected with education. In recalling the establishment of a civil service board, the speaker asked if that were not an, indication that the mind of the Government, was running in the direction of the proposed council of education. Should not education. just as iniieh as. if not, more than, any other branch of the service, be placed under proper responsible control ?

Mr. A. Erskine (Wellington) said he had always been against buying ''a pig in a poke." and lie would therefore favor (in advisory, not an administrative, council.

Mr. E. If. Ballachex (Wellington) remarked (hat it was i..;orrect to compare an advisory coum-il with the Teachers' Institute, which was an unofficial body. The council, on the other hand, would be an official body created for the very purpose of giving advice to the Minister, and it would be recognised as such. Its recommendations would carry weight, and if not immediately acted upon would be filed for future consideration. It. however, they set np an adminstrative council of* which they knew nothing about, there was a danger that it would force its recommendations down their throats. Mr. Cousins' amendment was lost by 37 votes to 17, and the discussion continued.

Mr. Haslam moved an amendment to the effect that the Council should control the purely educational affairs, the business management to be retained by the local authorities and the Education Department. He contended that if the Coum-il was to be effective it must have advi=ory as well as administrative powers. He thought the sweeping away of the whole -of the present democratic institutions having to do with education was

TOO DRASTIC A PROPOSAL. Tt was better to proceed by degrees, and a local authority of some kind—ll'ot necessarily Education Boards or School Committees — should -be retained to control the business affairs, so that the public would remain in touch with education and feel that they had some voice in affairs. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Burns, and gave rise to considerable discussion.

Mr. Rumbold feared that the amendment made for divided control, which would not be effective, tending instead to cause confusion.

Mr. Haslam explained that possibly some arrangement might be eventually arrived' at whereby the functions of school committess and the edu : cation boards in each district would be administered by one class of body, fewer in number than the present Education Boards. It would be less unwieldlv and complicated than the present arrangement, under which the "Department, the hoards, and the committees were each administrative as well as advisory.. Mr. Parkinson said that if the business was still to be carried on by committees and boards, the reform which they most desired—the appointment of teachers—would be lost. To pass the amendment would take the heart out of the proposal.

Mr. McDonald foresaw failure if Mri j Haslam's amendment was carried. All j the Conference needed to do was to ftp- 5 prove of the principle of a Council, and I leave the details alone. J Mr. Cousins did not think, teachers were ready to commit themselves to J OUT AND OUT CEXTRAItSM, I which would be the real effect ofltlie pro- \ posal. It would not be prac&cabje to do j away wi|h Education Boards, '('he idea I of putting the business - management in ; the hands of the Council was; very ill- j advised. Were educational man good j business men? i i

After further discussion," the j amendment was lost, and the remit, ( as proposed by Mr. Parkinson, agreed) to. SUPERANNUATION". Mr. Mcllrov, on behalf of the Taranaki branch, moved as follows:—"That superannuation allowance be calculated on. the three consecutive years in which the salary received was highest." The remit met with the general support of the delegates, and on the suggestion of Mr. Cousins. Mr. Mcllrov added the following words to his remit, which was then carried:—"ln accordance with the actuaries' report and the report of the Education Commission." i • Mr. <T. C. Woodward moved a rtawke's Bay remit that house allowance and.'the value of free houses should be considered in computing superannuation! allowances. • '

Mr. Wells said flint it was wise to be cautious in asking further concessions. At present the State paid £l7.ooo.annually into the fund, and it jyouhl be ill-advised to overrun the constable, especially in view of the agitation for increased salaries.

.Mr. Holmes pointed out~-ttiht they were asking no more than what was already enjoyed bv the officials in the. Post and 1 Telegraph service.

Messrs. Parkinson and Cousins both advised the Conference "to leave' it alone,'' the latter pointing out that provision for teachers' widows and Children was a more pressing requirement. '' After hearinar the arguments against the proposal, Mr. Woodward withdrew the remit.

In answer to a delegate the secretary explained that teachers' widows were eligible to claim an allowance from the Widows' Pension Fund. ; TEACHERS' CERTIFICATE.

Tt was moved by Mr. McDonald that the recommendations drawn up W the Otago District Institute be published in the Journal, and that district, institutes be asked to send in to the executive their opinions eoncerningk them, and then lay them before the Education Department.

Mr. Mcnzies seconded the motion. •It was eventually decided to refer the replies to the Otago Institute, which body will then draw up a report for presentation to the Department.

EVENING SESSION. At the evening session discussion was confined to the finances and the appointment of inspectors.

FINANCE. In ilio course (it Lis statement of account-; for tlio year ending December 31, 1012, the treasurer (Mr. E. "YV. Just) said that the following funds were to the credit of (lie institute: —Ordinary account .€635 5s 2d. legal assistance fund £IOOO, Journal of Education £l3l 17s. benevolent fund €3(13 7s lid. benevolent fund £44 8s: total £2174 18s Id. The statement of assets and liabilities disclosed a credit balance of £2112 9s Id.

The statement was adopted after several delegates had commented on the fact that there were a number of outstanding subscriptions which ought to have been shown as assets.

Tt was proposed by -Mr. M/Donald that the secretary's honorarium for next year be £SO. In doing so he paid a. very high tribute to Mr. Parkinson'> untiring zeal and energy.

.Mr. Newton. in seconding the motion, followed in a like strain, and the motion was heartily supported by Messrs. Erskine and Flux. Mr. Markness also added his tribute, remarking that he kept them completely in touch with everything going on at headquarters.

The usual honorarium was voted to the treasurer (Mr. Just), and the registrar (Mr. Mcnzies) was voted an honorarium of £5. The services of both gentlemen were highly eulogised.

APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS. The following remit, wa<j_ moved by Mr. Lippiatt, on behalf" of the Auckland Institute:—-Thai i.'i-peclors shall be (a)' appointed by the. Education Department from a graded test prepared by a board consisting of the chief inspectors of the Dominion: (b) controlled by the department: (c) the r-cale of salaries to be that recommended by tile Royal Commission. lie. said that it was of]

the utmost importance that the choice of inspectors should he properly made. In the past, however, the appointments had been made by the Education Boards, but in his opinion .these bodies were not competent to make the selections. As it was, appointments were frequently decided simply by patronage. He quoted from the findings of the Education Department to show that one of the defects of the system was the want of uniformity and method amongst the inspectors. How, then, could they better get these two qualities than by having all Hie inspectors appointed and controlled by the 'Education Department. An inspector could be more outspoken and valuable in his advice to boards if he did not owe his appointment to them.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Stratford, who stressed the necessity of securing greater uniformity in the system of working. If they were going to have a uniform scale of promotion they must have inspectors uniform in their ideas, as would obtain if the inspectors were under one authority—the Education Department.

Mr. Wells failed to see that the first portion of the proposal was altogether practicable. A graded list under the proposed circumstances would be an impracticability. The remit was opposed by Mr. TTarkness, who sa-w several difficulties in its way. What was required was an interpretation by the department of regulations and the syllabus. He moved the following amendment: ''That the inspectors of the Dominion shall be under q, central department with respect to the interpretation of the regulations of the syllabub." Mr. FJamank supported the amendment, and said that a teacher's reputation and position were often damaged owing to unsuitability of inspectors. Mr. Thomas saw good in the remit in that it wotiui pave the way for an interchange of inspectors.'

Mr. Featherstone opposed the remit on the grounds that it tended towards centralisation, against -which the institute should firmly set its face. Mr. Service thought that something should be done with regard to the syllabus, but he failed to see why the institute should' worry itself about the salaries of inspectors. It had enough worries of its own in that connection. Mr. Parkinson held that a national system of education was impossible unless the inspectors who guided it were iradel- national control. He had been officially informed that the department would regard it as strengthening their hands if the remit proposed was carried. Eventually the amendment moved by Mr. Harkness was carried by 30 votes to. 24. The conference then adjourned until 9.30 a.m. to-dav.