DISCUSSION OF REPORT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30095, 1 April 1963, Page 12

DISCUSSION OF REPORT

School Committees’ Conference The managing committee of the North Canterbury branch' Of the New Zealand Educational Institute decided at a special meeting to ask the local school committees’ association to discuss a report of Ute Dominion Federation of School Committees’ Conference which appeared in “The Press’’ on March 26. The report read: “Hitherto education had been divided between *a leisurely amble for eight years, and a breathless gallop for three years.’ ” In a supplied statement the secretary of the branch (Mr G. S. Maister) says members were amazed that such a responsible body would approve a report containing such a statement. "We would commend the federation for their support of the scheme for the extension of teacher training to four years which we believe is essential to better education,” the branch’s statement says. “We respect their views on the Form I to Form VI high school scheme but feel that they have jumped to conclusions before the pilot schools they refer to have had time to give proof or otherwise of their value. It should be remembered that the Education Commission strongly recommended the continuation of the present intermediate school system, and recommended the establishment of Form I to Form VI high schools only under certain conditions. “We would point out that the Education Department in its wisdom has seen fit to disestablish two Form I to VI schools that had operated in New Zealand over an extended period. We refer to Waitaki High Schools where a separate intermediate school has now been established. “In this area, there has been a very fine spirit of co-operation between the School Committees’ Association and the North Canterbury branch of the N.Z.E.I. We have frequently met to discuss mutual problems and are confident that this relationship will continue.”