OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1917, Page 2

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS. OUTCOME OF INSPECTOR'S CONFERENCE. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, "Miircli '2. Important proposals for the improvement ot' New Zealand's education system were considered at a conference ot senior school inspectors in Wellington, last week. The prososals relate to the primary school syllabus, methods of instruction, the arrangements for inspection anil examination. The conference had before it suggestions drafted by the Director and Assistant-Director of Education on lines indicated by the Minister for Education (Hon. J. A Hanan), who has personally inspected schools throughout New Zealand during the last eighteen months. Inspectors were present from all parts of New Zealand and their deliberations extended over several days. The regulations relating to the preparatory division 'Were considered to be satisfactory by the conference, both as to methods of instruction and range of work. Some amendments were suggested in the treatment of several subjects in tho junior and senior divisions. It. was the general opinion of the conference that the regulations concerning drawing and freehand work were not sufficiently explicit. The inspectors suggested that the work should be more clearly defined and that the syllabus should contain specimen courses. The conference decided ot recommend, in connection with the syllabus, that there should be taught as much formal grammar as was required to secure an intelligent comprehension of the structure of the sentences the scholars read, speak or write. The programme of grammar to secure that end should be set out more explioitly than in the present syllabus, and more emphasis should be laid lyion the extension of the vocabulary of tho pupils, particularly in the upper standards. The inspectors were of opinion that the spelling programme should be based 011 the words that should be used by the children in speech and in writing, rather than on words contained in miscellaneous read-

With reference to -writing, the conference resolved that a fair standard of neatness and legibility should be maintained right through the class work in all subjects; that in each district uniformity of style should be required, and that 110 system of writing should be permitted that was not calculated to produce i'liency and legibility. In the discussion regarding the teaching of geography, reference was made to a lack of continuity often observed in the schools. It was considered by the conference that the programme of instruction should show that a general sequence had been observed throughout the school. The conference was strongly of opinion that the principles of con; tinuitv and sequence should apply to all the subjects in which the teachers were authorised by the syllabus to prepare programmes. The list of history subjects was considered to be unsatisfactory in some respects, and the conference adopted a proposal that a more appropriate programme should be substituted. After discussing the general form of the revised syllabus, the conference decided to suggest to the Minister that the arrangement adopted in the Victorian and New South Wales code should be considered, and that specially important directions should be printed in different type. The conference gave some, attention to the Sixth Standard examination and certificates. There was a unanimous opinion that only one Sixth Standard certificate should be issued, and that tiie Education Act should be amended to enable this to be done. The conference further recommended thai the privileges to be attached to the certificate should be indicated by endorsement lathe inspector. Dealing with the certificates at present issued, the conference recommended that the proficiency certificate should admit to the high schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and that the competency certificates should admit to the district high schools and technical schools, without the right of transfer to the high schools. The inspectors were of opinion that certificates of competency should replace certificates of proficiency as the qualification for appointment to certain portions -in the public service.

The conference agreed upon certain methods to be adopted in the conduct of Standard VI examination 1 ?. A discussion took place as to the nature of the tests to be givei' to Standard VI pupils in English an.l arithmetic, and the time to be allo.ved. The conferenci made a series of suggestion*! with the object, of securing uniformity throughout the Dominion in these matter-'. Another subject discussed was the relations between the inspectors and education hoards. The Director of Education, indicated that the Department woult}' issue definite instructions tc the senior inspectors on this point, and that the number and form of insneetors' reports would lie laid down, with the approval of the Minister.' The Director mentioned also that the Department would probably issue directions to the inspectors as to the topics that were to be included in their annual reports. The conference adopted a series of motions on the subject of the training 0 f pupil teachers and the giving of assistance to inexperienced and uncertificated teachers. It was suggested that the junior free place examination should be abolished as a separate examination, and that junior free place candidates should take the scholarship examination without the age limitation. The conference made recommendations on many other matters, including the grading of teachers, the courses of instruction in rural subjects, the utilisation of the services of physical instructors during the summer vi;-;s!,ion and the riv:?ion of lists of class books. The proposals endorse! by the conference will lie placed b '."ore the Minister of Education for his consideration, dome of them are likely to be put into ellect in the near future