N.Z. EDUCATION SYSTEM

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 3

N.Z. EDUCATION SYSTEM

MINISTER OUTLINES PLANS REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES NOT WANTED (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Mav 25. The development of character and intelligence in people through schools was the great duty of education in safeguarding democracy for the future, said the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) in an address to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Mr Algie outlined his plans for the Dominion’s education system and said there was no need for a revolutionary change in the, present educational doctrine. Minister of Education is onlv political flotsam and jetsam.” he said. . He is flotsam for a year or two and jetsam for the rest. Consequently he must first approach his problems by consultation, then by negotiation, and then by a measure of compromise or agreement.” Mr Algie said his policy was first to meet all sections in education for consultation. This he had begun at Wellington on Wednesday when he met representatives from nine education boards. They had brought long memoranda in answer to his questionary and he had asked groups of ins staff to digest them and prepare separate summaries. Mr Algie said tim * he - had met 3,1 oth cr interested organisations he xvould have a fair picture. "What will be done ultij? r 'y l ll done direction or dictation, but because there is an intelligent demand for it. the c °hsent of our children to edeinncraey they have inherited to be true consent, it must be coirr of . two elements—intelligence u d character, I will try to find out the e hoarde e ? cl ? ools develop these and s chairmen say they do." ■rV? A ’ g,e said he also wanted Io And work® r XJ' aS > a correct balance between nlav k P la y m schools. "Life is not Play, and we have to fit the child to wh?lho 11Vlng ' Third ’ 1 wiU find out Dhasis in We i, ar< i g ? vin « the right cm- -£ th!. d® 1s 1° the fundamentals ehHd Js- T' Rs -, Are we teaching our woliti e work accurately and diliness world? 67 W ‘" haVe l ° in the busi ' «.i.3 hat ‘- s only a sketchy summary of what is in my mind. Happily there is no serious educational crisis ir tWs and there is no need for a revolutionary change in the cdunational doctrine. However, there plenty of room for fairly considerable O l a practical kind, and I be--1 teachers will meet them." Mr Doidge said the Government was spending £45.000.000 or more to take of thlmselvp wb ? could not take care £l2onn , nnn l ' es ' 1 am asking for ±.12.000.000 or so a year to brine up the people who will look after themselves. They will fit themselves to earn of li'fo’fhft”' 1 to kn °w lhe enjoyment that comes not in taking, but i.i a large measure from giving It is to telV± OIS ‘M"* 5 m “ s ‘ look to!‘ in! and g nS e ,i. and character in our people both m,r h H Suecessf ul production Of both our democracy must stand If they cannot be produced, it is on that ruin that our democracy must'split and fall asunder," he said. F