EDUCATION BOARD PROBLEMS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26121, 25 May 1950, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD PROBLEMS

MINISTER MEETS MEMBERS MR ALGIE COMMENTS ON RESULTS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 24. Written statements of the views of education boards on various problems within their jurisdiction were submitted by representatives of these boards at a meeting they had in Wellington to-day with the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie). He said to-night that he intended to correlate these statements and place them before his colleagues. Mr Algie said that he was more than delighted with the results of his meeting with the chairman and members of boards who had assembled in Wellington at his invitation 1o discuss certain aspects of a number of educational problems. The agenda covered some 20 items. They dealt with the administrative powers of boards and their constitution. the election of boards, and related questions of the amalgamation or reduction of areas covered by th? jurisdiction of boards. Other matters discussed were results achieved in the field of intermediate schools. A considerable amount of . attention was devoted to the question of characterbuilding in schools, and the amount of emphasis to be placed on fundamentals in education. Each board submitted its views on all questions in a written memorandum.

MR ALGIE’S MOVE CRITICISED

N.Z. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (Ncid Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. May 24. “It is difficult to understand why Mr Algie chooses to consult the education boards on professional matters before seeking the opinion of those actively engaged with the classroom,” said the president of the New Zealand Institute of Education (Mr J. Box), commenting on recent statements by the Minister of Education 'Mr R. M. Algie) on educational trends. Mr Box said he believed that advice on these matters from the Minister's own department and contact with official teacher organisations should be a preliminary to his ‘stocktaking on education.” “It would appear that there is much activity 10-day in educational administration.’’ said Mr Box, “and teachers will welcome this. At the same time it is impossible not to be disturbed by the general trend of some of this activity. “I would like to make it perfectly clear that the institute is eager to cooperate with the Administration for the welfare of education, that we do believe that improvements can be effected, and that Mr Algie can expect every assistance from our organisation to effect such improvements. However, I would, with all goodwill, suggest to Mr Algie that if he wishes to leave his mark on New Zealand education he might prefer to be remembered as a Minister who used to the full the forces at his disposal to consolidate the changing system.” Mr Box said that he had the highest regard for the part played by the education boards, but he could only express alarm that the Minister had sought first their lay opinion on professional matters. “Surely Mr Algie knows that the boards are not concerned with the specialised detail of the classroom.” said Mr Box, “for board members would be the first to admit that in such matters they dependent on the opinion of the senior inspector, an officer of the Education Department.

“It would seem that Mr Algie has not yet consulted his own departmental officers who are responsible for the present development, and would be responsible for the development of any change in practice. There is an urgent necessity to obtain fr.*m these people who are competent to advise the full story of what is being done and what is still to be done in our educational system. It might be' thought wise to include in such a consultation representatives of those actively engaged in the schools.”