Country policy urged

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32603, 11 May 1971, Page 3

Country policy urged

(Prom Our Education Reporter) PALMERSTON NORTH, May 10. The Educational Institute is still concerned about what it considers is a lack of a clear-cut definition by the Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys) or the Education Department of the role and the future of area schools in country areas. The institute’s executive was questioned by members at the annual meeting of the institute in Palmerston North today. Asked what the institute was doing to obtain a statement of Government policy, Mr R. I. Goldsmith (Southland), a member of the executive, said that it was still trying to gain from Mr Taiboys an assurance on criteria governing the transfer of a school to an area school role The institute hopes this

year to work with the Minis-1 ter and the department in formulating an efficient and equitable system of informing and influencing rural communities when translation from one type of school to another is contemplated.

A clear stat'ment must be made on the role of these schools soon or those involved in rural education would be left bewildered, Mr Goldsmith said.

The conference emphasised the institute’s concern about the number of old and outdated school buildings in some education board districts. RETIRING LEAVE

In discussion of a report on teachers’ retiring leave, the secretary of the institute (Mr E. J. Simmonds) said that the Cabinet had declined the proposal but more consultations would be held tomorrow in Wellington.

Considerable progress had been made during the year towards obtaining for teachers the retiring leave granted in other State services. The institute did not support a bid by the Teachers’ Colleges Association to obtain separate negotiating rights for teachers’ college staff.

“We would prefer not to support a separate organisation until some kind of agreement on federal activity in the whole field of teaching is arrived at.” Mr Simmonds said. However, more talks on the matter would be held. BOND OPPOSED

In discussions on the teaching bond, Mr Simmonds said that although the Educational Institute had continued to oppose the bonding of students who undertook a course of teacher training, no political party would take a stand to oppose or abolish the bond. Discussions on the lack of men applying for primary teacher training led some members to say that the institute was avoiding an explicit stand on the issue. Mr L. R. Hercus (Dunedin) suggested that salary increases and the possibility of university entrance becoming the minimum standard of entry to teachers’ colleges might bring more men, into the profession. |