THE UNIVERSITY COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1257, 20 July 1880, Page 2

THE UNIVERSITY COMMISSION.

The following are the recommendations of the Royal Commission, appointed in December, 1878, to enquire iuto and report upon the University of New Zealaud and its relations to the secondary schools of the Colony :—: — That, subject to certain restrictions, the teachers of primary schools be allowed to give instruction in extra subjects at times not included Avithin the legal schoolhours, and to receive fees for such instruction. That a primary school, not being in the neighborhood of a secondary school, may, when it contains, say, 50 pupils above the Fourth Standard,be constituted a middle school;" and that a grant of at least £100 be made by Government towards the payment of an additional teacher or teachers, so that secondary instruction may be imparted in such schools without detriment to its proper primary school work. That the governing bodies of schools and colleges be employod to sell reserves in cases in which it is shown to the satisfaction of the Governor of the Colony that by so doing they will be acting 1 for the present and future benefit of the institutions concerned. That certain schools, which are described as having an insufficient income be assisted by annual votes until, by the sale of their reserves or otherwise, they have attained a position of independence. That a jrirls' high school be established at Nelson. That a high school be established at Hokitika, to be maintained out of the income of secondary school reserves in Westland. That, in every town which with its suburbs contains a settled population of 5000, a high school be established, and endowed with land of sufficient value to pay a head-master and head-mistress. That as a rule the governing body of a new high school include members appointed by the Governor, by the Senate or the University, or by the Council of a neighbouring 1 University College, by the Education Board of the district, and by the Municipal and County Councils. That all secondary schools be inspected and examined under the authority of the Minister of Education, and that the Senate of the University be constituted a Council of Advice to the Minister in all matters relating to .secondary education. That, in order to encourage young men to attend technic.il schools, measures be adopted for giving a preference to expupils of schools of mines, engineering, &c.-, in making appointments to departments cf the public service in which their special training would be of value, and for registering and giving official publicity to cenificates of competency issued by technical scbooLs which have been established under public authority. That in certain cases, and subject to certain restrictions, funds which have beeu pet apart for instruction in special branches of technical knowledge be nifde available for instruction in other branches of such knowledge. That stops be taken to secure greater uniformity in the regulations relating to Elucatiou Boaid scholarships, and specially that the superior limit of age of candidates fur such scholar-ships bo 15 years ; that candidates abo"ve 13 years of age be examined in some subjects not included in the primary school course ; that the Tabulations be so framed as to bring the holders of tin highest class of scholarships within reach of the scholarships of the University before their tenure of the Board scholarships expire^; that the scholarships be trnable only at secondary schools strictly so called, cr at technical schools established under public authority, and that the competition be open to all children except the pupils of schools at which the scholarships may bp held. That small grants be made to Education Boards to a-sist them in organising evening classes m the larger towns. That the Trustees of institutions maintained in whole or in part by the proceeds of State endowments for the education of children of both races in religion, industry, and the English language, be required, to present annual statements of their accounts to the Minister of Education, and that the Minister be empowerod to take all necessary steps to ascertain whether the estates are well administered, and what is the actual condition of the institutions. That the trustees of educational institutions of which the endowments originated in contracts between colonising companies and the settlers, be required to submit to the Minister of Education annual statements of accounts, and that the Minister be invested with the right of insisting upon a legitimate application of the income The remaining recommendations relate to matters which, though not beyond the cognizance of the Government, lie within the discretion of the governing bodies of the several institutions, or of other authorities. We have given a general indication of the course of instruction Avhich we think ' should be pursued in secondary schools, with suggestions as to the division of the classical and the modem sides, and as to the course of study to be adopted in the case of boys who do not study Latin. We have also offeied advice as to the standard of admission to such schools, the minimum fo3 to be charged, and the limitation of the class-work to be undertaken by the headmaster, so that lie may have time for supervision. We have stated our views as to the most prudent course to be adopted in providing medical education within the Colony. We have recommended that candidates for admission- as solicitors and barristers be required to pass certain University examinations. We have given our opinion in favour of the establishment of chairs of engineering in the University of Otago and in Canterbury College. We have also recommended that the operations of the Canterbury School of Agriculture be extended so as to include instruction in forestry, and that the travelling expenses of the pupils be paid from the funds of the school. We have suggested that Boards of Education should grant an allowance for maintenance to male students in Normal Schools, nnd that they should take steps to organise evening classes, and to establish or promote schools of art and design ill the larger towns.