EDUCATION NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 2, 27 September 1917, Page 3

EDUCATION NEEDS

CHILDREN OF LIGHT-KEEPERS

TREATMENT OF TEACHERS SERVING WITH FORCES

A deputation from tho Wellington Educatiou Board waited upon the Minister of Education (tho Hon. J. A. Hanan) yesterday. Present: The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman), Messrs. W. H. Field, M.P., G. London, A. W. Hogg, E. H. Penny, E P. Rishworth, and G. L. Stewart.

The Hon. Mr. Aitken referred lo the disadvantage at which the children of lighthouse-keepers were placed in respect to their education. Tho keepers were located in isolated places, and their services were of great importance to the State. Unless the children are sent away- from homo to tho mainland they cannot receive _ instruction. ' The alternative was to hire a governess or teacher. No capable teacher would go to snch places at tho paltry salaries payable, consequently only inferior teachers had to be employed or the children had to bo sent away from home to attend school. He suggested either that tho Government pay additional capitation to ensure qualified teachers being secured, or arrangements should bo made by the Department to board the children whilo attending school' on the mainland. Mr. Aitken stated that the Council of Education had recommended that a proper high school should be established . in place of the district high schooLs 'at Petone and the Hjitt. While he did not consider that this was an absolute neces. sity to-day,' many members wero con» vinced that it was time to provide for the future by acquiring a suitable area at a price much less than would be r a J' - able in a few yeare' time. The tt-st matter brought forward by him was that of teachers serving in the Expeditiohary Forces. At tho beginning of the war teachers were informed, at tho instigation of the Education Department, that those volunteering for service and gaming commissions would receive pay equivalent to that they received from the board-and 25 per cent, in addition. Other teachers serving in the ranks were only receiving Defence pay, and as some of them were married and had families he considered it was in justice only right that they should also. receive consideration in this matter. Messrs. Rishworth, London, Penny, and Field also spoke on the questions in support of the chairman. The Minister, in replying, said that tho question of the education of children of lighthouse-keepere was involved in connection with certain proposals which he had submitted to Cabinet and which would be considered when the Supplementary Estimates were being framed. He recognised tho necessity for making bettor provision for . such children, and also those of the back-block settlers. With regard to the question of land for a high school for the Hutt Valley, he could i.ot hold-out any hope of anything'being done in the way of acquiring an areaat present, owing to.the great and increasing financial burden which tl:o country'would have to bear and the abnormal conditions prevailing/Mr. Hanan said that the reason for the <lftereiitmtion in- the treatment of teachers serving with the Forces was that the Defence Department wanted trained men, and' consideration was given to -.eac-iers trained as officers. He pointed out that members of the Civil Service were Making equal sacrifices, but wero not receiving tho same treatment ■in the matter of pay as teachers holding commissions. The matter had been before the House and replied to by the Defence Minister •All he could say was that he would bring their ' representations unte tne notice of the Hon. Sir James Allen. .