COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1922, Page 5

COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.

THE TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 22. The establishment of a District High School at Featherston was approved by the Council of Education to-day. A good deal of consideration was given to the recommendation by the committee that a High School should be established at Balelutha. Mr. Banks regretted that provision was not being made for the establishment of more rural High Schools, where the teaching of agriculture would be the leading feature. Mr. Kirk said the present system of education gave a bias towards pro. fessional avocations. The Hon. D. T. Fleming stated it was intended to continue the teaching of agriculture at Balelutha. w Mr. .Howell thought 'all secondary schools should be termed high schools. Miss Ohaplin agreed with Mr. Howell that there was a sort of class distinction springing up in the towns with regard to technical schools and high schools. Mr. Caughley pointed out that the technical schools had justified themselves. but there was no need for pre-, serving the distinction in nomenclature between high schools and technical schools. On the motion o-f Mr. Caughley, it was decided that a High School providing an adequate course i in agriculture should be established at Balelutha. At the Council of Education at proposal was brought forward to ask the Minister to amend the constitution of the council so that all branches of the teaching service should be equally represented. It was contended that the council could not fulfil its purpose unless it contained representatives of technical, university, and administrative sections. The motion was lost on the voices. SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS. Wellington, Last Night. On the motion of Mr. Howell (Wellington) the Council of Education resolved that the University Senate and the Education Department be urged to obtain the services as moderators of school examinations those who have had experience as teachers in secondary schools or training colleges; and to secure freedom of treatment of his subject to a teacher the University Senate and Education Department be asked to instruct examiners for school examinations to set papers in which a wide choice o-f questions is allowed candidates. TEMPERANCE TEACHING. Wellington, Last Night. Continuing the discussion on pamphlet 13, Mr. McCallum said the pamphlet was not wisely framed. The department should not put its imprimatur on such a document, which was not correct in matters of detail, and attempted to raise a bogey regarding the affects of alcohol on the human body. The Hon. D. T. Fleming seconded Mr. McCallum’s motion. Miss Chaplin deprecated raising the issue. If the resolution was carried teachers would not be allowed to teach children anything about things on which their parents were at -fault. Finally an amendment by Mr. W. A. Banks (Rangiora) and seconded by Mr. E. C. Banks (Auckland), that the council congratulates the department on the issue of pamphlet thirteen, was adopted by nine votes to five. ,