SCHOOLS’ AMALGAMATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10670, 15 February 1926, Page 5

SCHOOLS’ AMALGAMATION.

Sir, —As chairman of the Board meeting which decided that the proposed conference was not in the best interests of education in this town, I would state that, while in agreement with your statement that “ the necesrsity for taking every possible step toward ensuring the maximum efficiency in education calls upon every controlling liody to avail itself of all opportunities or bringing about the desired end,” my Board is unanimously of opinion that the proposed' conference, instead of helping to ensure “the maximum efficiency,” would • tend rather to create friction, and perhaps even bitterness, between supporters of the High and Technical schools. Mr Bowden’s remarks as reported in Saturday’s “ Guardian” show exactly what is likely to happen. After stating that “he should prefer to leave this matter till the next Board meeting,” he uses up half a. column in half-truths and actual wrong statements. For example, he states “that the origin of the amalgamation idea lies with Cabinet.” Everyone who has studied the position will know that i this is not so. In Ashburton the idea . of amalgamation has been in the air. more or less, right from the present Technical School was built. ' The idea came to a head, as stated by you, in 1921, when, if I remember rightly, the conference was brought to a close by one member’s remarks to the effect that if the suggestions made were carried out .the High School might just as well close its doors, as there would be nothing left for it to do. Mr Bowden complains that his Board was deserving of more courteous treats ment. The resolution of my Board was stated in a perfectly courteous manner, and it will, I am sure, be conveyed by our secretary in courteous terms. Surely one Board may differ from another without being accused of discourtesy. Again, Mr Bowden states: “'lnstead of delaying expression of their opinion until the conference took place, they discussed the matter fully and passed judgment there and then. Surely an error of judgment ?” * Is this statement, which Mr Bowden offers as his judgment of what happened, likely to help the position in any way P You, Sir, say that the remarks of members were “merely bold statements of opinion,” so that Mr Bowden’s judgment differs very much from yours. Your reporter has practically everything that was said, and the whole business was over in a minute or two. Mr Lill was not present to state his views, and the matter has been so often before the Board in one form or another that no discussion was necessary. . The Act gives the constitution of the combined Board as not more than three appointed by the Government, not less than two by parents, and at least one each by employers and employees in local industries. My Board is strongly of opinion that such a Board is not sufficiently representative of the people supplying the majority of the students. What Mr Bowden’s object was in speaking of trouble between the Boards was I am unable to say. No mention of trouble between the Boards was made at the Technical School meeting, and none is likely to occur unless hasty and ill-advised reflections are made by indiscreet members. The trouble was the difficulty of overlapping. As stated bv Mr Bowden, we ars or the Board not for personal gain, but to do the best wo can for education in the district. Most of the members of the Technical School Board have given up their time for many years, some of us since the commencement o r technical education; and I think we can claim to be progressive and always open to suggestions for improvement For example, the Ashburton Technical School Board was the only one in the South Island to introduce compulsory education up to the age of 17 yearsit introduced country classes for the benefit of those who could not get in to town; it made the classes fit the 1 students, instead of making the students fit the classes; it introduced parttime courses for country lads and gir.s who were unable to attend for thp whole week, and when Methven Hi eh School threatened to cut down the number of our students last year ray Board offered the Methven people good wishes and lent them instructors to carry on with.

I mention these things to show that

the Technical School Board is not narrow in its idea of education. ne- v dove it hesitate to do everything possible for the best interests of the children. At tho same time, our members are unanimously of opinion that the nroposed conference can lead only to bickerings, and perhaps worse, in

thli town. , The Technical School is equipped in a thoroughly up-to-date manner, and the High School is quite welcome to

make use of this equipment, so that'if High School pupils are losing anything the remedy lies with their Board'. Lastly, we'feel that it is not for individual Boards to decide what is tho best thing to do. A satisfactory education system cannot be- built up by patching things up in this way. The Education Department can view the education of the Dominion as a whole, and if it thinks there is anyserious overlapping it should introduce into Parliament an Act that would' strictly define the respective courses to be taken in technical and high schools. TITOS'. HAYES. Deputy-chairman,.,' Asliburton Technical School Board.