CAUSE OF EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 190, 12 August 1919, Page 7

CAUSE OF EDUCATION.

PROVINCIAL CONGRESS

PEACE PROBLEMS. CHILDREN OF DOMINION. OUR GREATEST ASSET. MUST EE BETTER EDUCATED.

The conference called by the Auckland EJuvatu-n Hoard with members of Parliament and educational authorities, including the University College. Technical College, Auckland C.rammai School, Council of Education. Educational institute, and Primary Schools Committee, ■was opened in the Board Room this morning.

Mr. E. C. Banks, chairman of tiic Education Board, who presided, extended a welcome to the members of Parliament present, and pointed out that the interest Taken in educational matters was shown by the fact that members from practically every electorate in the prmince were present. Ther wae nothing so important at the present time in regard to the efficiency of ;he future a> education.

Apologies for absence were received from Hon. W. 11. Herrics, Minister of Railways, and Hon. A. M. Myers. Minuter of .Munition.-.

In his opening address .Mr. Banks eaid there was to-day a shortage of some 40.000 men in N?w Zealand who had been either killed or maimed in the war or had died of influenza. It had been eaid that we would get an influx of population from abroad, but iie did not agree with this, and stated that countries such as America were equally short of men. That boinsr the case they must make the best use of the growing manhood and woman'iood of the country. They should receive :i better education, and a start should be made with them from their infancy. Children should be dentally and medically examined regularly, and a Teconl should b.' kept of every boy and girl in the State.

TO THE "BLIND ALLEY." "He wished particularly, however, to deal with the subject of education after The compulsory age o; 14 years. Because there wae no compulsory education after 14 years, they had about 20 per cent, attending , technical colleges. What became of the other SO per cent.? "They go into "what might be called the 'blind alley.' " he said, "where they learn language, but the kind of language that is not desirab-e. The result is that at the age of 20 you have the making of a iirst-elass Bolshevist."

f-peaking of the present labour unrest, lie said the result of tile turmoil that existed would be that everybody would have to have an occupation and everybody would have to be educated for that occupation. In the Auckland province the}' had come 15 or It*, district high schools, but the teachers were under-paid and the result waj that the boys were being taught by ladies—some of whom had degrees and tome who had not—who had no control over the boys. What was wanted wag a properly trained man who would he capable of taking a course in agriculture as well. With regard to the girls' side of the district high schools, they should have a lady teacher with a degree, capable of teaching- domestic science. If these suggestions were carried out. pupils could be taken to the matriculation stage in the district high schools and would not need to come to town for an education till they were 18 years of age.

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS. The speaker went on to deal with the question of overcrowding. The Council of Education, he said, had passed a resolution that no child should have less than 12 square feet of air-space, and this resolution should be taken as the slogan of the Board. So limited was the accommodation that it would take half a ciillion pounds sterlins to provide 12 square feet of space for each child in the Dominion as suggested. It was a disgrace that a state of affairs such as this should exist in a country like New Zealand, and they must do a"ll in their power to bring about the needed improvement. BORROWED BUILDINGS.

The next table (B) contained the intelligence that 130 of the schools in the Auckland education district were conducted in privately owned buildings, of ivhieh 33 have an average attendance of between 21 and 4i», twenty-six between lo and 20, and thirty-two below 1.1, while a further 40 sriools with attendances below 10 carried on in private buildimrs. It was pointed out that in newly settled districts it i.s sometimes advisable to open schools in private buildings until the trend of settlement has declared itself. Applications for £raffts for 'building had been made in some of the cases, but it was not likely that a great number would be forwarded immediately. A number of the schools conducted in private buildings had practically reached the stage, however, when a central site should be chosen and a Fehool erected, and it was estimated that the cost of buildings so needed in the near future was £20,000.

INADEQUATE PLAYGROUNDS

Another important matter touched upon was the question of playing- areas. In the section dealing with this phase mention was made of the regard given to playing space in the school areas established of late years. In country districts extra land was usually available for this purpose, but in the city and the larger country towns the cost was a serious obstacle. Emphasis uas laid on the necessity of acquiring the few open spaces now available in the city, as, if the question were shelved until the spaces were built upon, the price, even now high, would be prohibitive. The list of schools with inadequate playing areas includes all the city and most of the suburban schools, nineteen schools in country towns, and seven of the larger country schools.

UNDERSTAFFTNT7

The table dealing with accommodation showed that- there is a large number of schools in the district which are not provided with a teacher's residence. The table respecting the stalling of schools i≤ also very interesting , . It shows that among 51 of the largest schools in the Auckland education district there are 71 classes containing 'between 00 and 70 pupils, sli containing between 70 and SO, 33 with between SO and '-)0, 14 with be : tween 90 and 100. and seven clashes containing between 10fi and 120 pupils. The return also shows thai 200 assistants and lfiO junior teachers and probationerr teacher- teach 14.!><;."> pupils, and that an average of '!.'■'• pupils are taught by an assistant and a junior teacher for lonr-fiiths of the time. It is explained

j that junior teachers teach for only four [hours daily, and probationers for only three hours.

Mr. Ranks continued: "The. country people, perhaps the poorest class in the community, are required to erect their own schools. It is time that the Government found sufficient money to erect these schools themselves."

PLAYING AREA IDEAL. With reference to the playing areas of the city schools, said the speaker, they were very meagre. An acre here and there had been acquired, but they were by this time half covered by buildings. He wanted a flat rate of an acre playing space for every hundred children. * lit the country, where children rode, to school each day, additional acreage was required for stabling. It would be necessary to acquire one hundred acres in Auckland, at a cost of some £250,000. Auckland was going to be a very big city some day. and it wns wise to acquire all the open spaces available and suitable for school recreation grounds. To get the required floor space of 12 square feet per child, it would be necessary to increase the school buildings at a cost of £500.000. THE TEACHER'S HOUSE.

Mr. Banks also spoke on the lack of residences to the schools of the No. 2 grade. He stated that two-thirds of these schools had no residences attached. Most of the Maori schools had good residences attached to them, but the email white schools were badly accommodate.l. The teachers had often' to live at some distance from the schools, under adverse conditions. His ideal of a country school was one with a permanent lesi-deiu-e attached, in which a married teacher might spend ten or Lftpen jears .is guide, philosopher and friend to the district. Agi in, the classes were liadequately stalled. In many schools a class of SO children was taught, by an assistant and a junior teacher. They expected a teacher to teach too many children. At present a school must have an attendance of 35 children before a second teacher could be provided, 80 before a third. This number must be reduced. This meant a good deal more money, as it would cause an addition of another eighth to the teuching .staff. There was, airain. a. question of salaries. They wanted a Director of Education at £ 1500 per annum. This official now received £ SOG or £000 per annum.

BACON V. CULTURE. A recent advertisement asked for an inspector of schools at £630. In his, private capacity he was the direct ir of a bacon company, in which they paid their manager X 1200 a year. He had to deal with some fifty or sixty thousand pigs, whereas to the man who deals with some 100.000 children, they ottered £(wO. Tliey needpd a stronger 'department at Wellington. Under the director, at £1500 per annum, there should be four or five men at i 1000 or £ 1200 a year, who w-re competent to act as inspectors of -eeondary and technical education. Again, regarding the needs of country nhildrm, at present there was an allowance .if sixpence per diem for those children who had to drive more than three miles to school. Utid fourpence per diem for thor.e who had to ride the same distance. He thought an allowance of one shilling a day should be made for these children.

COUNTRY REQUIREMENTS PLEA FOR THE CHILDREN. EQUESTRIAN SCHOLARS.

Mr. J. D. McKenzie, member of the Education Board, spoke on behalf of the country districts. He alluded to the number of buildings all over the country which they were obliged to use. and which were not under their control. In many of these buildings the teachers employed were not ccrtiucated teachers, ihis was nut what the board wanted, but what it had to put up with. Children in the country schools, too. sometimes iiad to ride seven and eight miles to and from schools, with the result that they were too tired to give that attention to their studied essential to fcuccess.

CHILDREN WITH GRIT. He mentioned that notwithstanding this drawback he had known of two instances where boys had won scholarships who! had ridden 14 milps to school, though in these two cases they could ride along a beach. These were exceptions, however, and in many cae=es they had to ride through mud. Never yet had they had a Minister of Education who had the courage to ask Parliament for the amount of money required for the education of the children of this country. THE CITY CINDERELLA. SHOCKING OVERCROWDING. THE PRICE OF REFORM. Dr. J. h>. Reekie, speaking for the needs of the city, said Auckland was the] Cinderella of other places in New Zea- ; land. Overcrowding was shocking, and in many of tiie r-chools only eight square! feet was provided instead of twelve. Ilej would go even further than twelve square | feet, and say that twenty square feet , should be provided, and also that pro-! vision be made for alternate rooms. They, must recognise the fact that the masses■ of the people were taking things into! their own hands. These people were the most prolific in bringing children into' the world. The wants of these people must be. catered for. It was said that' it would take a silver bullet to win the war. THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY. "I say," he continued, "that it will take a g-olden shower to establish peace."' We must realise that the children were' the most valuable asset the country: had. These problems would not b'ej settled unless we realised fully this fact.: Something must be done, and that im-| mediately. Parliament had faced greater| questions than this during the past five' jears, and he did not see why it should not he possible to deal with this big question during the present session,short though it might be. He believed in public schools. It wm good fur is to come together on one level, to rub shoulders with eacii other, and get the corners rubbed off. "It is Cods plan for us to live together," he' said. "He intended us to do so, and I want to see the common children as well provided for as ray children are. If their parents are not in a position to do so, the State should purchase their books for them." He went on to point out how expensive was the present system of school books, and the continual change that took place. A uniform system of books would overcome thie un!iecessar3\ waste. EDUCATION AND PHYSIQUE. The war had shown -.is that ! lie physi-j cal standard of our manhood was low.. The trouble went back to the children, and proper medical attention should be; provided. So long as they postponed dealing with these queitione, so

would they postpone any definite setltcnicnt of the troubles facing them. (Applause.) WAIF OF EDUCATION. HOMELESS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. Mr. T. \V. Leys, speaking for the University College, alluded to the statement by Dr. Reekie that there were only eight square foot of apace. "I represent .an institution," he Bald, amidst laughter, "which hart no square foet at all." He went on to point out that this institution ivas the key to the. whole system, and they were absolutely homeless. He was present to appeal to the members of Parliament to rectify this great wrong. He said he did not feel so despondent sis the chairman would appear to be with regard to the continuation of education after the young people left the secondary schools. There was, indeed, a fine response from a large number of young people who seemed to realise the importance of the facilities afforded them. Out of about COO students attending the college he thought there were only about 70 not engaged in some occupation.

AGRICULTURE AXT) HOME SCIENCE

With regard to extension of agriculture and home • nee |h«v iv>"*-r| chairs at the college for both these brunches of education, and both the College Council and the Professorial iSuurd ■Were anxious to provide these chairs as soon as they had the necessary means. ihere was also a need for an extension of the work of the college in connection with the Workers' Educational Association. He was sure that if those present realised the value of this work they would be eager to encourage it in every possible way. There was ground for reasonable confidence that people wern not so dead to the facilities afforded as might be assumed, lie did not think it should be necessary to rely on compulsion and coercion, particularly in regard to education. Our systvm he thought compared very favourably with that of other countries, and they would need to go fur before they could And better.

DEMANDS OF THE SOUTH. lie alluded to the fact that Canterbury was applying for £47,000. for the noble block of buildings familiar to most. Canterbury also asked for £30,000 for its highly endowed Hoys' High School. Otagi, was asking for £40,000 for additions u> its medical hall, and Wellington was calling tenders for additions to Victoria College. These claims for extensions were surely sufficient ground for the claims of the Auckland University for £100.(100, inclusive of buildings. The site question had been settled, and all they wished t!m members of Parliament to do was to provide the funds.

TABLOID ARGUMENT. THE WANTS OF EDUCATION. IN FACTS AND FIGURES. Facts and figures relating to the needs of education were placed in the hands of each member of the conference. The information, presented in carefully tabulated form, contained a formidable array of concentrated argument for the provision of more adequate accommodation for school purposes, of enlarge playing areas for the children, and of increased stalling in many of the schools in the Auckland education district.

OVERCROWDINO. Table A related to overcrowding, and showed that grants had been made this year for schools where the average attendance exceeded the capacity of the floor space, totalling jCiU.OOO. T7i"e table also included a list of schools for the enlargement of which application had been made to the Department, the estimated <ost of which was approximately C,") 0.000. but the grants for which had not yet been made. Amongst other information in this table was a list of seven schools for the enlargement of which the architect is now preparing plans and estimates, the approximate cost being £7000, while no fewer than 37 schools requiring enlargement at a total cost of about .£25,000 were scheduled, but for which no application had yet been made to the Department. It was pointed out further that besides the enlargements required there were a number of old buildings which reeded replacing, and for which the Department would have to find the difference in cost between building in wood and in brick.

THE TRAINING OF GIRLS. Mrs. Baume spoke with special reference to the education of girls. This, she stated, was a vital question. Any person entering a profession of any description received a special training. Yet they were willing to tlirow an entirely untrained g-irl into the greatest profession in the world —that of homemaking and motherhood. They had all been warned that the world had to faeo lessened production for some years to come. It would he necessary to connerve our food supplier! as carefully as possibly, and therefore necessary that the home providers should have a systematic knowledge of the values of these things. Mrs P.ailme urged the necessity of a Chair of Domestic Science in the University. The idea of professional homemaking- might seem early Victorian, but it would soon be realised that the idea was entirely modern—even ultramodern. Compulsory continuation classes for girls were soon to come into being. But if, was a question of money all the time; they could see clearly what they wished to do, if they were able to afford it. And the duty that they owed to g?rl.q did not extend sufficiently far. They owed a duty to the mothers —the pioneer women of the farming classes—to educate them scientifically in the household problems that it was necessary for them to grapple with. '.Siii-.li training, Mrs. Baume urged, would have an important bearing upon the domestic service problem. Aβ it woe, the domestic drudgery of the home often rendered the mother inert and unable to achieve the personal touch wiiich was so essential.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS. NEW BUTLDTXfiR WANTED. Professor Thomas, representing the secondary schools, mentioned their interest in primary and secondary schools. The outstanding feature of secondary education during the past few years had been the extraordinary increase in the number of pupils. Oirls were increasing more rapidly than boys, probably because the boys were wanted for office work during the war. Only three years ago they built a new school for girls at Epsom. This they were now adding to. and it would not be long before it would be extremely difficult to accommodate I hem at tin- Epsom and Howe Street schools. I'loys wine in a worse case, and they hoped to be able to build another school for them ill the western suburbs. They really wanted two new schools in the near future.