Schools’ Council To Discuss Report

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29913, 29 August 1962, Page 15

Schools’ Council To Discuss Report

“I fear that the Minister of Education may take the Education Commission’s report as a testament of revealed truth and plunge into the implementation of the lot,” said Professor G. Jobberns when the Christchurch Post-primary Schools’ Council arranged last evening to hold a special meeting on the administrative implications. “The report is not the last word by any means,” said Professor Jobberns.

The secretary (Mr P. J Halligan) had tabled a summary of the chapter on administration which proposes district education councils and primary and post-pri-mary councils. He said the Christchurch council might care to invite Dr. K. J Sheen, secretary of the commission. to meet members of all secondary school boards, the Canterbury Education Board, and district officers of the Education Department to discuss implications. “Certainly we need to understand all that lies behind the recommendations.” said the chairman (Mr W. J, Cartwright). “Have we any idea whether the Minister hopes to get legislation through Parliament this session?” asked Mr E. F. Wilde. “There are many who are opposed to different parts of the report.” There was a danger, in assembling too large a meeting. that it would become amorphous and that a generally informative talk would give no special help to any one group, said Dr. C. D. Ellyett. “I agree.” said Professor Jobberns. “It will take a great deal more talk to make this verbose report clear ” He then expressed his fear that the report “may be regarded as gospel.” "If this report was adopted as quickly as some of you fear, it would be unique in the history of commissions in this Country,” said Mrs F O. Bennett. “But this sort of administrative change has been talked about in the Education Department for years and it may want to push it through in a hurry.” said Mr Wilde. Mr Cartwright said that clause 12 in this section of the report suggested a committee to investigate administration with representatives of the Education Boards’ Association. the Secondary School Boards’ Association

and the Technical Education Association. This did not suggest precipitate action. The council agreed to hold a meeting on its own to discuss the report.