EDUCATIONAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4637, 1 February 1894, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL.

School Inspectors'' Conference l (By Association). ) \taiNGtpN, Thursday, i The conference oflSchool Inspeo- • tors opened to-day, the Rev. W. J. i flabons,lnspeotor-Qeneral.presiding. , lohis opening address toe Chairman, on behalf of the Minister of Education, i thanked those present for responding, to the invitation, and expressed tbe hope that an efficient system oi public instruction would receive animportant impetus as a result of the deliberation of the conference, The main purpose i of the meeting was to seoure a greater uniformity in regard to the valuation of the work done in schools and the interpretation of the various details of standard regulations, Referring to the subjects to be discussed Mr Habeas alluded, to the proposal to bring inspectors into direct relations with the Education Department. To effect this he thought it would require an amendment of the Education Aot, but that was no reason, why a Cull disouasion should be avoided. As to technical eduoation, lie was of opinion that the most important service primary schools could render, was to give instruction in the primary knowledge of elementary science, and ground all pupils in elementary drawing, and especially in geometrical drawing. He had the strongest possible sympathy with the proposal for a considerable increase in the number of reading books. ■ Later. Wellington,' Thursday, v The proceedings of the Inspectors' Conference are not open to the press. Mr Hill has been appointed Sedretary and Mr Lee Chairman of' Committees. It was decided : to invite the Minister for Education to at* tend, iho subject considered at this morning's silting was th 9 control of the .Inspectorate. A motion, that in the interests of education in tho colony, it is required that the inspection and examination of primary schools shall be under the officers of the Education Department, and if necessary tbe Education Act be amended in that direction, wag negatived by 12 to 9. A committee consisting of Dr Anderson, Messrs Goodwin, Lee, Brisk, Petrie, and Hill were appointed to bring up recommendations on the question of the uniformity of inspection and report next day, The question of«radical alteration in the mode of inspection is to be considered this afternoon.