The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1889. Mr Fisher's Education Bill.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3174, 8 April 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1889. Mr Fisher's Education Bill.

It appears that the report which wat circulated some time ago, to thi effect that it was Mr Fisher's inten tion to introduce a new Education Bill during the ensuing session of Parliamont, was founded 011 fact, The measuro has been drafted; but whether it will be brought forward as a Ministerial measure now that Mr Fisher is leaving the Ministry, appears to ho doubtful. The Evening Post has had an opportunity of lookiing through it, and publishes a 1 resume of its principal provisions. It is proposed to abolish the present Education Hoards and Districts, and to substitute School Districts and Boards, The following provision is made to establish the former:— " Every borough, together with any adjoining area included in any electoral distriot iu which the borough or any part of it is situated, is to be a school district and every electoral district which does not include a borough or any part' of a borough is also to occupy that position, Each school district is to have a School Board, the number of members of which is to bo regulated by the number of schools in the district," Allweoau makoofthis is that the boundaries are to be coterminous with thoso of electoral districts. If that is so, we think chat the, idea is altogether objectionable, Education has but little in common with the election of members of Parliament, and what would be a convenient district for the purposes of the one, might be a very inconvenient one for those of the other, So far as tinMasterton district is oonoenied, it would bo the height of absurdity to expect representatives from the various country districts to come, say, once a month to Masterton. The members of tho now Boards aro to ba appointed annually to represent the schools by the parents of the children. If there is only one school in a district, the number of members is to be seven; if two schools, four members for each school ; if three, three members for each; and if more than three schools, then two members for each. Each voter shall have as many votes as there are members to be plecjod, hut the voting shall not be cumulative. Any feinalo who is the head of a household shall be entitled to vote, and be eligible for election. The Boards are to havo all the necessary functions cooforrod upon ,thon>, and their powers and duties will, apparcnty, differ but little from thoso pf tho present Boards and Committees combined, 'f\m most important change that we'can find j* that they will not be entitled to appoint inspectors. These officers are to be appointed by. the Governor, and assigned to certain districts. The teachers at present employed are to remain in their without reappointment, The jßoards may appoint or dismiss teachers, subject to the approval of the Minister of Education. This seems to bo a perpetuation pf tho psent system, under which tho Boards are sp often brought to loggerheads with School Committees, and we are surprised that Mr fisher could a>a)fe no better S3d°directbyt;;s of headmasters are to range, ing to the class of school, from £l2O to £460 per annum; of headmistresses i from £l2O to £320; of second masters and mistresses, at two thirds of the above; of junior assistants, from £6O to £100; and of pupil teachers, from £2O to £6O for boys, and from £l6 to £4B for girls, A first-class school must have an average attendance of over 700; a second-class, 401 to 700; third-class,-261 to 400; fourth-class, 151 to 250;. fifth, 86 to 150; and sixth, below :35, or two half : time schools. Tho revenuapf tho Boards its 'to (to* of n csjjft&tion grant

from Hid Government of 6s for every unit of the average attendance each year; bat none of, this money must be spent on prizes; rewards or enter ; tainments, A Board may order any school or schools under its control to be closed half an hour earlier on one day in each week in order that religious instruction may be given to the children by such person or persons as shall have obtained from the Board permission to give instruction. Before any such instruction is given the school shall be dismissed, so that children whose parents object to it may leave. Education is to bo free to children between tho ages of five and fifteen years,. who have not passed the sixth standard, and those remaining after they have reached fifteen years, or passed the sixth standard, will be required to pay 2s 6d per week, or 20s per quarter. One important provision is that headmasters or proprietors of private schools are required to furnish annually a return of pupils in their schools, giving detailed particulars regarding them. Such sohools may, on application, • be examiued by Government inspectors. There are also numerous provisions for the working of schools which we need not allude to now. On (lie whole, the measure does not strike us as being a very brilliant production, and if it should come before Parliament, it would be certain to undergo a large number of amendments beforeitwould become it would become law, •