Private-School System Called "Unnecessary”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32232, 26 February 1970, Page 22

Private-School System Called " Unnecessary”

The present private-school system resulted in a wasteful and unnecessary duplication of facilities, inefficiently-sized schools, and competition with the State system for available resources, said the Post-primary Teachers’ Association yesterday 7, in submissions before the special Cabinet- J caucus committee on State aid. )

If State aid to private schools were extended, more schools would inevitably be built, resources would become even more strained, and controlled educational planning rendered

impossible, the association said.

The association called for a public referendum on State aid before any further extension was made. The issue, it said, was more important in social consequences than that of extended liquor hours.

The association called for a halt in any further increases in State aid, and. if necessary, a review of the whole system of private education in New Zealand. It said: “We have, in fact, practically reached the point of no return." The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association represents more than 9000 secondary teachers, technical institute teachers, and teachers’ college lecturers throughout New Zealand. Its submissions were made by its national president. Mr E. F. Hamill, its two vice-presi-dents, Messrs C B Newenhatn and J. Murdoch, and its general secretary, Mr P. W. Boag. In a long. 34-page report, the association examined the present school system, the claims for increased State aid made in the past, and the claims made for an increase The report cited examples of inefficiency in the privateschool system, and how the starting of some private schools had caused “a deteri-

i oration in State schools.” The s report also dealt extensively ' , with the unnecessary duplica- ' i tion of facilities and under- ' r use of resources resulting ' . from the private-school sys- 1 I tern. Masterton and Hastings i were quoted as two areas I where duplication of facili- I ■ ties occurs, and where some: ; private schools are so small i that they are uneconomic. I , The report said that if ’ i there was a steady move to- 1 wards a publicly-supported ’ system of private schools, it ' would be extremely difficult ' to reverse the process. It • : cited instances of increasing political pressures on govern- ’ ments to increase State aid to ■ private schools, and said that ' “the plight of some of the pri- I vate schools may well be real, * but concern for the children < in those schools should not 1 necessarily be used to justify ' the jeopardising of the wel- 1 fare of future generations of > New Zealand children.” The association said that I the Cabinet-caucus committee I s

should not recommend any action which would tend to undermine the New Zealand education system, or erode the social fabric, which in many ways was unique in the world today. Opposition to State aid for private schools was a democratic decision of all members of the association, taken in a referendum, and confirmed at subsequent conferences. The mounting pressure on the Government to give more State aid indicated that pri- ' vate schools were finding it increasingly difficult to finance their operations, the association said. “The rapidlyrising costs of education indicate that these difficulties will not only continue, but will also increase.” the association said. “There will be more frequent representations, for larger and larger State grants. State aid could soon become a very heavy charge on the public purse, and it is not difficult to foresee, if a Stateaid policy is extended, the tiijie arriving when a considerable part—if not most—of the costs of private schools are borne by the State.” The association said that | the growth of a private-school | I system could carry with it I

serious implications for the future welfare of underprivileged groups, or for future immigrants. “The present system of assistance to private schools gives benefit to the affluent and privilege , and not to those less well endowed." . No private school which ' received State assistance ' should be permitted to offer salaries or conditions in advance of those in State , schools. The association also said that “any private schools ’ which receive assistance from the State should have their accounts subject to Government audit?’ Grants given by the Government at the 1 moment were not subject to - such conditions. “Parents who send their children to private schools should not receive the bene- ■ fit of the present income tax ■ differential applying to pri- ’ vate-school fees” was a concluding submission. The asso1 ciation said that parents who 1 sent their children to a private school had "opted out of the State system of their own free will” and. therefore. ’ should not receive the tax benefits at present applicable. Private schools which re- ' ceived State assistance should - be subject to the same regu- ; lations as State schools, and ■ teachers/in State-assisted pri- > vate schools should be subject to the same conditions Jof service, including salaries, lias teachers in State schools. I the association said.