EDUCATION REFORM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16218, 22 May 1918, Page 4

EDUCATION REFORM.

MEETING AT HEATHCOTE VALLEY.

The first suburban public meeting in the interests of educational reform was held in tho Heathcote Club Hall on Monday evening, when Messrs C. T. Asehman and I". T. Evans, representing the Canterbury Educational Institute, delivered addresses. Mr James Weir presided over a fair attendance. Mr Asehman said he wished it to be clearly understood that the campaign was not intended to arraign education Hoards, committees, nor individuals. What was required was to nrouso such sv solid body of public opinion that the Government would be compelled to vote sufficient- monc-y to provide the country with a niueii bettor system of education than the present one. The speaker said that insomuch as it was on the rising generation that would devolve the heavy task of rebuilding the country's industries and wealth after the present world tragedy, it was a pressing necessity that tho present generation should be as fully equipped, physically and mentally, as possible to stand that heavy strain. It would be fatal to wait till peace was doc! a red, for a hundred and on© othor claims would then bo advanced, and education would ihen be, as heretofore, pushed into the background. If New Zoalaml could find fifty millions for war purposes, il coi:lri easily iind ono or two millions- for education. (Applause.) After a brief description of tho systems of othor nations w-lio to-day stood in the forefront of civilised races, Mr Asehman went on to say that the welfare of n nation is wrapped up in the health of its people. Many of the New Zealand schools are of such an obsolete type that t.hev endangered the health of ihe children. Tho system of medical inspection should be, greatly extended. Children should not be allowed to suffer from ill-health merely because their parents cannot- or will not spend money on tho necessary curative treatment. Cases could be quoted to show that life in some of the schools was such that- a child's health in some cases suffered a steady deterioration on account of poor lighting, inadequate ventilation and quite unsuitable furniture. Parents sometimes neglected the doctor's advice in the matter of eyesight, adenoids, dental caries, etc., and tho child had to suffer. The State should intervene in tho interests both of tho child and tho whole community. The fifty-yenr-old system of backless seats, useless fireplaces, etc., came in for con-

demnation. It was stated that 2816 children in eight of tho eitv schools have to sit on backless seats. Overcrowding, tmderstaffing, and kindred ovils were dealt with in a lucid man- , ner. | Mr Evans spoke on the question of technical education. Statistics showed that- every year in New Zealand 16,000 children leave tho Dominion primary schools at fourteen years of ago, and , that no fewer than SOOO of thai num- i her get no more education. The world's ! leading psychologists say that at fourteen years of age the child's mind reaches its period of greatest expansion. and yet this is just tho time when SCOO children every year cease being educated, instead of being placed under the guidance of teachers who can influence their -whole lives for good. Children leaving school' at fourteen years should be compelled to receive at least an hour's training per day in their trade or calling, riot-at night-, J but in the day timo, and still help to ; earn their own living, and not suffor ; loss of wages. To this end tho teaehevs were "working in complete harmony ■with the Trades and Labour Council and other organisations. I Both speakers were heartily applauded. I Tin* following resolution was carried unanimously, and wns ordered to bo forwardol to ihe Minister of Eduea- ; tio'i: —"That th's meeting of citizens ' of Ileatheote Valley. Canterbury, urges upon the National Government the ne- ! cecity for making provision, without ' delav* for improvements and extensions | in the education system of the Do- I minion.'' J

Hearty votes of thanks wero accorded the speakers.