EDUCATION BOARDS’ POWERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 186, 9 May 1928, Page 12

EDUCATION BOARDS’ POWERS

“A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES”

THE MINISTER’S VIEW

TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ REQUEST

An echo of the discussion regarding Education Hoards which received considerable prominence last year Was heard at the annual conference of the Technical School Teachers' Association yesterday, when the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) made an interesting statement on the subject.-

In his presidential address, the chairman (Mr. A. McFadyen) stressed the need for a Technical Schools Board. Such board, with its syllabuses and examinations, was an absolute necessity if technical education was to advance in Aew Zealand. Registration would soon be an accomplished fact, as certain industries were at present agitating for registration. The University Entrance Board, from the nature of its constitution, was not likely to perform the true functions of a Technical Schools Board, and hence the functions of any examining board for technical schools should not be entrusted to it. K.o scheme of examinations and registration would ever be a success unless it had sympathy and cooperation of industry. The association, therefore, ought to urge strongly for the resumption of the powers.and duties by the Interim Board and its subsequent legalisation. They must see that the schools were prepared when registration came along. Had the. Technical Schools Board, with its syllabuses and examinations, been in existence when registration of plumbers and electrical wiremen was first instituted, it was almost certain that these examinations would have been entrusted-to such a board. A great deal of misunderstanding of technical education would then disappear, for such misunderstanding was due to lack of knowledge of the work being done in technical schools. It was generally recognised that manufacturing processes were becoming more and more scientific and that a better educated class of manager, foreman, and worker would be necessary as the years went by. Industry would need better organisation to decrease cost of production, and technical education would be an important help in this direction. In accordance with a remit from Auckland adopted by conference, the. Minister of Education was asked to introduce legislation setting up a Technical Schools Board, it being urged that the operation of such a board was vital to the proper functioning of technical schools.

Minister of Education Cautious.

In reply, the Minister of Education said one of the difficulties encountered in the administration of the Education Department was that __ there were so many boards all over New Zealand that it was extremely difficult for the Department to function properly. . This made him view with extreme caution requests for the setting up of further boards. He was uneasy at the creation of so many boards having statutory powers that made it extremely difficult to know who was master of the situation. At the present time a teacher could hardly be dismissed for an offence except gross misbehaviour. A teacher could take a day off for the races and go. to back horses instead of looking after his duties, and nothing could be done to him. The Department had no power to do anything. The boards all had statutory powers, and the Department had no control over them in many matters. They were a law unto themselves. For this reason he viewed the Technical Schools Board with: extreme caution. He had only just assumed office some two years ago, and did not understand the position when he commented favourably on the scheme; but since then he had learned much and that was why he hesitated. Where were they going to get with another, board having statutory powers? However, the matter had not yet been decided, and he would go into it again. The conference subsequently decided, in view of the Minister’s statement, to frame stronger reasons for setting up a Technical Schools Board.