EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON THE REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION ON CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND (E.-12, 1912). (Mr. G. M. THOMSON, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, I-13b

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1913. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON THE REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION ON CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND (E.-12, 1912). (Mr. G. M. THOMSON, Chairman.)

Report brought up on the 3rd December, 1913, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representative*. THT7B3DAY, THE 3rd DAY OF OCTOBER, I!) 12. Ordered, " That the report of the Education Commission bo referred to the Education Committee for consideration."—(Hon. Mr. Allen.) Thursday, the 3rd Day of July, 1913. Ordered. "That a Committee bu appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters relating to schooltcuohors, education, and public instruction generally, public-school training of teachers, higher education, technical education, manual instruction, and such other matters affecting education as may be referred to it) to have power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Hanan. Mr. Malcolm, Mr. MeCallum, Mr. Poland. Mr. Sidey, Mr. Statham, Mr. J. C. Thomson, Mr. G. M. Thomson, and the mover."— (Hon. Mr. Aixmr.)

REPORT. Tub Committee, having gone carefully into the Keport of the Commission on Education in New Zealand, presented to the House on the 29th August, 1912 (E.-12, 1912), and having considered the evidence on which the findings of that Commission were based, reports as follows : — The Committee is in general agreement with many of the findings of the Commission, but is of opinion that before they are given effect to by legislative enactment some of them requite modification. It has therefore thought it advisable to deal with these findings seriatim. It recommends in regard to — 1. "The Council of National Education." The establishment of such a Council, representing all branches of education, as an advisory body, to meet annually and at such other times as the Minister may direct. 2. "Education Boards." (a.) That llie number of Hoards be reduced (say, to eight or nine), but it is not prepared to agree that they be reduced to five. (&.) That the Education Boards exercise control over all public primary education, and in regard to secondary and technical education that the curriculum of any secondary school or

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technical school under separate managers shall be subject to the approval of the Boards in order to secure suitable provision for the educational needs of the district and reasonable co-ordination between the work of all the educational institutions in the district. (c.) That Education Boards consist of twelve members, nine to be elected by School Committees as at present, one by governing bodies of secondary schools, one by Boards of Managers of technical schools, and one by all certificated teachers of the district. 3. " School Boards." The Committee is not in favour of the recommendations of the Commission in this respect. No evidence in support was adduced. 4. "School Committees." That the principle of the present School Committee system be retained. 5. " The Inspectorate." That there should be a Dominion scale of salaries of Inspectors, in three grades; that a uniform rate of travelling-allowances should be paid; and that the number of Inspectors to be appointed in each education district should be subject to the approval of the Minister of Education. 6. " Administration of Central Department." («.) That a " Director of Education," responsible to the Minister for the general administration of all branches of education, be appointed. - (6.) That the practice now prevailing of handing over Native schools to the Education Boards he continued. (c.) That the inspection of secondary schools, of free kindergartens, of manual, technical, and agricultural instruction, be retained in the hands of. the Education Department, which should also have the control and responsibility of the provision for the issue of railway passes for pupils and teachers. (>/.) That the Committee approves of the efforts made by the Department to simplify returns, and suggests still further simplification where found possible. (c.) The Committee suggests that the Department should appoint an officer of special qualifications to supervise the inspection and organization of agricultural education. 7. "Training of Teaoheks." (a.) That the provision recommended for the training of teachers be approved. {b.) That candidates for appointment in secondary schools should undergo one year's training in a training college, in accordance with the provisions of clause 14 of the Training College Regulations, but such training should not be made a condition of appointment. (c.) That since the Commission's report was drawn up the regulations have been amended to allow of an increase of 50 per cent, in the number of probationers, and to allow Education Boards to allot probationers to any approved school of Grade IV and upwards. 8. "Teachers' Salaries." That the Government be asked to bring down next session a comprehensive scheme dealing with teachers' salaries. 9. " STAFFING OF Schools." This matter is already being dealt with by the Minister. 10. " Grading, Promotion, and Examination of Teachers." That, recognizing tlfe value of classification and grading when considering the promotion of teachers, and that provision is already made in the regulations for classification which to a large extent forms the basis of grading in such districts as Auckland and Wanganui, the Committee is of opinion that by annual conferences of Chief Inspectors the Boards will have available expert advice enabling them to grade teachers on a basis which will be of great value in appointments and promotion in each special district, will aid in the transfer of teachers from one district to another, and will probably lead eventually to a Dominion scheme of grading. Such a scheme would enable Boards to adopt a uniform method in appointing and transferring teachers. That the Committee disagrees with the report of the Commissioners as to the necessity of twelve months' notice being necessary before new regulations become operative. 11. "Manual and Technical Instruction." That payment of capitation on manual work in school classes on the basis of individual attendance should be abolished, and that the average weekly attendance should be substituted • that the scale of payment for country classes should be increased; that in secondary schools typewriting should not be taught, that only the rudiments of shorthand should be taken, but that the principles of book-keeping, if introduced, should be taught in a thorough manner. 12. " Continuation Classes." That the principle of compulsory continuation classes be approved, and that their establishment be undertaken wherever possible. •

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13. "Agricultural Education. That the Committee dissents from the opinion that agricultural high schools should be ■established in agricultural or pastoral districts when the attendance at the district high school reaches an average of eighty pupils, as it approves continuation and development of the present system of teaching agricultural subjects; and that it approves of the establishment of one or more agricultural colleges for the training of farmers and the higher training of teachers and instructors in agricultural work. 14. " The Syllabus." That, while agreeing generally with the suggestions made on this subject, the Committee does not approve of the recommendation to prescribe specially prepared reading-books, and that before any alterations are made in the syllabus particulars of the same should be furnished to all teachers through the various institutes. 15. " The Kindergarten." That the finding of the Commission be approved, though the Committee is not prepared at present to recommend that the kindergarten should constitute the " initial step of the education ladder " of the Dominion. 16. " Education of Girls." That there should be greater differentiation of school-work between boys and girls; and that in the case of the latter greater prominence should be given to the domestic science course. (The Committee notes with satisfaction that this is recognized in the regulations of the Department.) 17. " Scholarships and Free Places." That the findings of the Commission be approved. 18. "Consolidation of Schools." That this subject should receive greater consideration from Education Boards, as both in primary and district high schools considerable improvement in efficiency, together with economy of administration, might bo secured. 19. " Facilities for Attending Schools." That the recommendation of the Commission urging the better co-operation of the Railway Department should be emphasized; and that in the case of all parties of pupils travelling by trains the headmasters of schools be instructed to appoint monitors, so as to secure better discipline, and do away with some of the objections to the present system. 20. " Free School- books." That in lieu of grants for free school-books the Boards now receive giants (a) for continuous readers, and (6) for school libraries; part of these grants is available for the provision of the class reader, which is supplied free in necessitous oases, or in cases in which a pupil has come from a school where a different reader is used. 21. "Encouragement of Teachers." That the question of encouraging teachers to increase their opportunities for improvement in their profession by enabling them to visit schools in the Dominion and elsewhere be recommended to the Minister. 22, " Private Schools." 23. " Correspondence Schools." That the findings of the Commission in regard to these subjects be approved. 24. " Superannuation." That the whole question of superannuation of members of the Education service be referred to the Minister for consideration." 3rd December, 1913. <;. \|. Thomson, Chairman. Approximate Cnxt of Paper.— Preparation, not given printing (1,400 oopieB), ±"2 10b.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer. Wellington.—l9l3.

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