POST PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20315, 14 August 1931, Page 12

POST PRIMARY EDUCATION.

* COST SAID NOT TO BK TOO HIGH. DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. (THE PRESS Special Service.j WELLINGTON. August Ja. Au appeal to the Government iiot to reduce expenditure especially upou post-primary education to an extent that would impair the efficiency of the system was made by a deputation of leading educationists, which waited upon tlie Prime Minister and the Minister for Education to-day. It was contended that the present expenditure was not too high in view of the importance of the work, but the Prime Minister in his reply said he had to effect every possible economy, and the question 'vould be investigated, by the Special Committee to be appointed in the near future. Mr F. M. Kenner. Headmaster oi the liongotai. Boys' College, said it had become the fashion to decry and belittle secondary education, and to identify it with the discredited regime of the past. Some of the criticism was direct misrepresentation, and much, was based on misconception. The socalled secondary education had largely disappeared, and been replaced by what could more correctly be termed post-primary education, and the 44 post-primary schools aimed to give a training for life, and not for a livelihood. It was no longer true that secondary schools were concerned with training recruits for the professions. The latest return showed that 22 per cent, of secondary pupils entered, the professions at the end of their course, and 62 per cent, went into trades, shops, commercial houses, and on to farms. Six per cent, of technical students entered the professions, and 75 per cent, went into other spheres. Comparison of Costs. If the proposals of the report of the Recess Committee on Education were adopted, the post-primary system of tho Dominion would be placed on an eminently practical basis. This report advocated the commencement of postprimary work at "11 years plus."' >io more than 9£d out of every £ of the Dominion's national wealth was spent on the maintenance of the education system. In 1929, the expenditure per head of mean population was £1 Us 9d on primary education, and 6s 2d on secondary education. It cost the State £l3 3s per head for pupils in primary schools, and £23 4s per head for those in secondary schols, although for tho current year this cost would bo reduced. When one considered the scope and importance of secondary education. the wonder was that the cost, per head was so low as it was. Mr Kenner said his own experience was that -with the correct application of the post-primary curricula, the modern secondary school had very little to complain of in the way of placing boys in positions after they left school. There •was no unfair competition between secondary and technical schools, as was so freely stated. Many realised that New Zealand had dropped somewhat behind other nations in the type of the education she was providing so liberally, hence it -would be little short of disastrous if just when it was expected that long-needed changes would be made, there was a drastic reduction in the vote for education which would leave those concerned with their hopes and expectations unrealised. Mr C. F.. Brew, chairman of the Standing Committee of the New Zealand Federation of Teachers, said it was hoped that the economy campaign would not be allowed to injure in any way the immature members of the community. In spite of the best intentions, injury had already been done to New Zealand children in two ways, in the first place owing to a reduction in the number of "additional" assistants to primary schools. Classes had already increased in size, with the inevitable decline in efficiency. In the second place, many of the children adversely affected by reduced teaching efficiency were also suffering hardship in their homes, and this was one of the most cogent reasons for the maintenance of the standard of education. Technical Institutions. Mi- E. G. Hancox, president of the Technical Schools' Teachers' Association, emphasised tho need for adequate training in technical institutions. He said they had not only raised the standard of work by the education of apprentices, but also improved the cultural outlook of the workers. Mr A. S. Farquar, secretary of the Secondary Schools' Assistants' Association, dwelt upon the more imponderable and intangible benefits accruing to the nation as a result of the training given in the post-primary schools. He said the training provided was for good citizenship, and the value of that training could not be assessed. Ministers in Keply. The Minister for Education pointed to various cuts that had already been made in educational expenditure, including wage reductions, and he said that the Department's salary bill ab-' sorbed 81 per cent, of the total net expenditure. The salary cut had involved a saving of £275,000. There was no doubt, however, that some savings could be made in administration costs. The Prime Minister said he feared that the times called for economy, and that further savings would have to be made if they could be carried out without impairing the efficiency of the teaching service. He appreciated tho case that had been advanced, and lie said the whole question of . education eosts -would be investigated by the committee to be set up shortly. The Minister for Education admitted that econo' mies could be effected in administration.