EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1915, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

CONSIDERED BY EXPERTS. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS BY COUNCIL OF EDUCATION, THE DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIPS. (From Our Own Correspondent. Wellington, Nov. 21. The recent meeting of the National Council of Education was called primarily for the purpose of fixing the boundaries of the new Education Districts, but the Minister of Education .(Hon. J. A. Hanan) took the opportunity to submit for the consideration of the Council certain subjects upon which fie himself has decided opinions. The Council submitted a report to the 1 Minister, and today Mr. Hanan supplied your correspondent with an outline of the recommendations that had been placed before him. SCHOLARSHIPS. The Council resolved: "That in the opinion of (he Council national scholarships should be tenable only at secondary and endowed schools as defined by the Act, district high schools and technical high schools." In arriving at this decision the Council was guided partly by the principle that in a country like New Zealand, where the population is small, no encouragement should be given to the establishment of a multiplicity of schools of secondary instruction. Further, it was held that where, directly or indirectly, a school has been established in consequence of a grant from the Crown the obligation was imposed on the grantees to provide the facilities that should be available for scholarship holders as well as other qualified pupils.

JUNIOR NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS. The Education Council further resolved: "That those already in receipt of free education in secondary schools, district ,high sc'hosls, and technical high schools be not excluded from candidature for Junior National Scholarships." The National Scholarships are no longer competitive, being awarded to all I candidates who reach a certain educational standard. The granting of scholarships to candidates from secondary schools does not, therefore, debar primary school candidates from securing a full allowance of scholarships. Many o? the brightest children gain certificates of proficiency and pass into the secondary schools before they are thirteen years of age, and it would be unjust and inexpedient to deprive them of the chance of securing scholarships that often are the main factors in determining whether the child shall remain at school or not. The Council thought it would be highly undesirable to retain promising children in the primary schools, waiting for scholarships, after the age at which their secondary education should begin.

AMENDMENTS NOT RECOMMENDED The Council had no recommendations to make with regard to amendments of the general scale of National Scholarships, since it was of opinion that the present scheme was entitled to a fair trial. The discussion that took place showed, however, that the Council favor ed the continuance of the small money grant to scholars, instances being mentioned where the fact that parents had to pay for books had led to the withdrawal of very promising pupils from the secondary schools.

A suggestion which had been placed before the 'Council that the scholarship scheme should bo amended to provide for instruction on the agricultural, industrial, and domestic side was referred to a committee for consideration. A COUNTRY PROBLEM. The Education Department lias frequently been urged by those interested in technical schools to extend (be free place system in the case of technical schools to include pupils of lower qualification than the Standard VI certificate of proficiency. It has been urged that, in some of the country districts especially, pupils who do not reach Standard VI in the primary schools ought to be given facilities for securing technical instruction. J

After considering this matter, the Council passed the following resolution: "That with regard' to free places in technical schools held by those who are employed during the day in districts where the compulsory clauses of the Act are not, in force, the free places in their present form should be abolished, and the fees be reduced to not more than 30s per annum for a full course, and that bonuses equal to the fees be paid to those who make satisfactory advances at proficiency classes; and, further, that in districts where the compulsory clauses are adopted all fees should be abolished and that in the last named districts employers should be required to give time off equivalent to one halfday 'per week." A REJECTED MOTION, A motion proposing that parents of children granted free places in secondary schools should be required to guarantee that the children would attend for at least two years was defeated by 8 votes to 5. It was mentioned in the course of discussion that the average period of attendance at secondary schools had materially increased since the free places system came into operation. It was now 3 years 1 month for boys, as against 2 years 1 montli in 1903. PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

The Council passed the following motion unanimously: "That free places be not tenable at private schools." SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATES. In the course of discussion regarding secondary school certificates, the chairman (Dr. Anderson) mentioned that there were three grades of those certificates—lntermediate, Lower Leaving, and Higher Leaving. The minimum qualification for these certificates were respectively two years, throe years, and four years courses in secondary schools. These certificates entitled the holders to certain privileges. The Intermediate Certificate was the qualification necessary for senior free places in secondary schools and for appointments as probationers or second year • pupil teachers. The Lower Leaving Certificate was the qualification for appointment as third year pupil teacher and for entrance to the training college, and the Higher Leaving Certificate was one of the qualifications for University Bursaries and free University education. The present Act, added Dr. Anderson, restricted the issue of secondary .school certificates to pupils of secondary schools, district high schools, and technical hish schools. Pupils of

private schools were not eligible to receive them, although prior to the passing of the present Act certificates of this kind had for some time been granted to pupils of secondary schools and their equivalents under authority of an Order-in-Council. The Council considered the question of extending the privileges in connection with secondary school certificates to all registered secondary schools (private included) and finally the following resolution was adopted by 8 votes to (i: "That secondary school certificates should be obtainable at all registered secondary schools if the conditions arc complied with, and that the Minister for Education be advised to have the Act amended accordingly.-'' The Council recognised that if this recommendation were given effect to, all secondary schools would need to be thoroughly and regularly inspected, but was of opinion that while this inspection would tend to increase the efficiency of the schools it would not lead to the expenditure of grants from the Treasury ou the upkeep of the private schools. MEDICAL INSPECTION. In connection with the medical inspection and physical training of school children the chairman stated that at the present time, in consequence of the war, it was impossible to provide fully for these services. The following resolutions were adopted:— "That, ill view of the present difficulties occasioned by the war in obtaining permanent medical inspectors for schools, temporary arrangements be made with local medical practitioners for the medical inspection of schools in the country and outlying districts. "That the Minister be advised that, in view of existing" circumstances, the attention of medical inspectors should be specially directed for the present to cases of special defects. "That medical inspectors and physical inspectors be brought into closer cooperation with a view to dealing with and remedying physical defects through a course of training where such is deemed possible. "That the question of utilising the services of trained nurses in association with the medical inspectors, together with other matters, be referred to the committee already set up."