EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13332, 26 January 1909, Page 10

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINIOTER. A deputation (consisting of Messrs W. R. Smith, J. Spiller, G. E. Franklyn, E. Langford, and Dr. Russell) representing the School Committees' A_sooiation waited on the Minister for Education (the Hon. Geo. Fowlds) yesterday in regard to a number of matters.

Dr. Russell asked that medical Inspection of schools and tho teaching of physiology be arranged for, audi that some provision be made for erecting shelters in the playgrounds for protection of tihe children against the storms in winter and the heat in summer. Tho speaker explained that the technical and secondary schools received more consideration at the hands of the Government than tho primary schools did. Mr Fmnklyn urged the claims of the single desks in every instance where new schools were being erected, or prosent schools, were being re-furnished. Mr Langford referred felicitously to tho desirable change that had been made in regard to teachers' salaries, and said that in connection with the Act- of last session. Mr Powlds's name

had been placed imperishably uporu the scroll of fame. The speaker went on to ask that more liberal allowance should bo made to School Committees for incidental expenses.

Mr Spiller asked that some provision be made for oovoring the cost of conveying country children into tho various centres for examination.

Tho Minister s_i_ that he thought the medical examination of school children was very desirable, and he hoped before long to have some system- of medical examination adopted. Tlie question of expense was barring the way in the meantime. On the question of the single desks, ho had' no doubt that, given ideal conditions of staffing and buildings, the single desks wero preferable to the dual desßs. When they got the full staffing provided! by tiro Act of last year it might be possible to arrange the size of classes and rooms so as to counterbalance by the advantages any disadvantage that ma'ght arise. Regarding the expense of conveying" children to various centres for examination:, ho was quite sure that in ind'ividu__ oa__j some hardship might be suffered. He felt, however, tihat centraJising in order to bring the examination as near to the end of the school yeor as possible, in order to establish effective corelation, between the pi-imary and scconckiiry schools, was of the very utmost importance. No provision had been made for the expense in this matter, but if it was going to ensure tihe success of the schamo to bring the examinations as close to the end of the school year as possible, he would be in favour of some provision being mode. At any rate, he would give the matter his careful consideration. Tlie allowance for ''incidentals" was more liberal than formerly, wheal capitation grants were distributed by the EducationBoa r_s. It was not "a bad thing that people should' be led to take'o closer interest- iv educational matters by contributing to the necessaries of tho schools. So long as tlie State supplied reasonable facilities for education in the matter of staff and equipment, he did not know if tho other things referred to did not fall within the "scope of private enterprise. The speaker had to realise fully that tlie educational expenditure had mounted. up very consicerably, and while there were a good many enthusiasts who thought they should go a good deal further than the Government was prepared' to go, he cKd not think he could follow thorn in making any large expenditure of money upon matters tliat did not appreciably enliance tho efficiency of the system. However, all the points raised would receive careful consideration.