THE EDUCATION ACT.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 463, 20 July 1899, Page 2

THE EDUCATION ACT.

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Last Night. At the Education Conference a resolution by Mr Weston, asking the Government to alter the mode of election of school committees and Education Boards, in the direction of securing a more complete representation of the people was lost, and an amendment carried that the voting for members of the boards should take place on one day, and that the individual vote of members of the committee be recorded, instead of as at the present by the committees. The committee on the graduated scale for the capitation grant, reported that the limited time at their disposal rendered it impossible to prepare such a graduated scale as the importance of the subject demanded, He recommended that the principle be affirmed, and the urgent necessity of increasing the allowance all over the colony be impressed on the Government, and that in computing the allowance upon the graduated scale, the annual paym*nt to each board be not less than £4 per pupil per annum, smaller districts to receive special consideration over and above the £±. The report was adopted. The afternoon sitting was occupied in debating the subject of the abolition of the individual standard pass. Mr Grundy, of Wellington, moved that in the opinion of this Conference this pass should be abolished. Most of the delegates took part in the discussion, which was considered the most important one on the Order Paper. Those in favour argued that the system had been tried and found wanting, both here and at Home. It was peculiar to Great Britain and had never been adopted either on the Continent of Europe or in America. Under it bright children were kept back and dull ones unduly driven and other hardships inflicted on scholars. It was claimed that the teacher* were beat qualified to promote children, and not inspectors, who were unfamiliar with the material. On the other hand, some delegates thought there was a danger in adopting a new system an 1 objected that the English system had become a Burden to both teachers and inspectors. Examination by sample and reports from the teachers was the ideal. Though the time was ripe for some adaptation of Mr Grundy's proposal, it was generally not advisable to substitute supervision for examination. For that the pass system was necessary. The delegates representing the teachers were unanimously in favour of the motion, and were generally supported by the inspectors and the board delegates. After a proviso was added reserving the right to the inspector to examine where he thought it necessary the motion was finally put in the following form : —''That in the opiuion of the conference, the individual standard pass should be abolished, but that the right be reserved to the inspector to examine all pupils of any class or of any school if he see tit," and this was carried by 23 to 3. The result was received with applause. ___________