THE EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 52, 22 July 1914, Page 4

THE EDUCATION BILL.

TJie Education Bill, which is rightly exercising the minds of the public of Taranaki at the present moment, is not favored very much by the Wanganui Education Board, which is to be amalgamated with Taranaki, with headquarters in the river town. The Wanganui Board is presided over by Mr. F. Pirani, one of New Zealand's foremost educationalists, who is editor of the Feilding Star. That •journal has no good word to say for the Bill. It remarks:—"At a glance on? would think Wie measure was intended to reform the system of educational'government, but further examination reveals the fact that what is new is piffle and what is not new can only liaye a stultifying effect." Our contemporary goes 011 to say it would have welcomed a hold reform in the repeal of payment on average attendance and the introduction of payment for efficiency, length of service, and educational qualification. The provision preventing the reduction of a- teacher's salary because of decreased attendance is a wise one, and the extension nf the payment Df subsidies for voluntary contributions to all primary schools is a long-deferred instalment of justice. But there is very little else of moment worthy of adoption. The greatest farce of all is the proposed Advisory Council of 17 members (!) selected in such a motloy way as to be ridiculous. And when this imposing body is constituted, of what use is it ? Does the Minister honestly think that there are seventeen educationalists in the Dominion -worth the name who are going to spend their time without remuneration of any kind formulating proposals for an effete Department to chuckle over? Why, we hare had all sorts of conferences—many

convened tiy the Education Department —making recommendations for reform; but, except for the proposals formulated by the -officials themselves, they were merely a waste of time. If a council is to he of any use, it must be an administrative and not an advisory body. And then the District Councils, what in the name of all that is wise are they Surely the Minister, the Department. the Advisory Council, the Education Boards, and the School Committees are sufficient to meet all the emergencies, without the intervention of another body whiefh 19 neither flesh, fowl, nor good red herring! Urban members are

to be elected on the municipal roll and suburban members by School Committees. Why did not the Minister propose election by proportional representation, voting to be by post, as at present? Then the number of members of each Board is a matter of guesswork. XJrban districts are to elect two members, and three suburban districts six members. Will New Plymouth, Wanganui, and PaJmcrston North be urban district?? For if so the Egmont Board mil consist of twelve members; but if that is not to be so, then there will only be six members of the enlarged Board, instead of eighteen as ,at present. Hut the most

serious Mot of all is the proposal in regard to the inspectorate. At present the Boards' inspectors are a splendid body of men—capable, efficient, hardworking, devoted to their duty, and unsparing in their efforts to advance the cause of education. .'As officials, they are a marked contrast to those appointed by the Department. And yet, under the Bill, the Department would have the appointment and classification of all inspectors, turning them over to the Boards after they have received the Departmental brand. Wo feel sure the proposals are crude, and the results will be most, unsatisfactory from every point of view. If the destruction of the present system of education is not aimed at by thi framer pf the measure, then he will have unconsciously accomplished it if the Bill becomes law in its present fovfr, or we are sadly (mistaken.