RURAL EDUCATION

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24547, 21 April 1945, Page 2

RURAL EDUCATION

IMPROVED FACILITIES SOUGHT CANTERBURY BOARD’S DISCUSSION “That the Government be urged to increase the yearly grant for education generally in order that the recommendations of the recent education conference may be irhplemented. particularly as they apply to facilities for education in country areas,” was a motion proposed by Mr F. G. Armstrong at yesterday’s meeting of the Canterbury Education Board. The consolidation of country schools was an urgent necessity, said Mr Armstrong. There was petrol tor private pupils..and there should be petrol for the -conveyance of children to consolidated schools. The board had insufficient country representation; with more, it could give more service to the country schools Mr F. L. Turley said the country did not have thO educational facilities, and everything tended towards a large drift to the cities, the drift being due not alone to the war. It appeared to him that the general trend of education was on city lines Unless consolidation of country schools was effected he did not know what was going to happen. The whole system was wrong not onlv of education, but of work. Mr W. P. Spencer said the board had been battling for years tor funds to make the schools more attractive in the country. Many of the schools were standing only by their reputation while many of the dwellings were dilapidated. A big loan for the rebuilding of dwellings should be obtained from the Government. Mr C. S Thompson (chairman) said members were aware that country people were opposed to consolidation of schools. The economic conditions on farms were not attractive to young men, and that was responsible for the drift to the cities. Mr K. Klppenberget said three powers were needed by the board—compulsorily to consolidate schools, to retain teachers longer in positions, to prohibit crossing by pupils to another bus route, so that routes could be extended. Mr A. E. Lawrence said the fault rested with the country parents, who sent their children past the district high schools to boarding establishments in the city. The State was encouraging that by giving boarding bursaries For three vacancies recently in district high schools no applications by teachers had been received. Some of the schools needed paint, but the work could not be done, although painting was being done on “bubs and picture theatres.” *T don’t know whether It Is any good being a member of an education board.” said Mr Lawrence. We get so little encouragement from the higher authorities.'* „ . . • jSa Improved attitude by the . boar? towferds rural education in the last lo yejtf4 ! was claimed by Mr 5. snutn. Th£ district . high, schools were no longer the, “ugly ducklings. Grants should be given on the requirements of. not on the attendance at. schools: the country schools had proportionately a greater expenditure on an attendance basis than citv schools. The chairman pointed out that me credit balance in the grants fund was built up alnrost entirely of credits in the country schools’ account. Replying., Mr Armstrong suggested that more use shopld be made of the Feuding Agricultural School for reJrcihdsaaHMSt«‘ teachers.-and that area schools should be -stiidied. •