Cost of Education

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 289, 2 September 1931, Page 11

Cost of Education

Sir, —A few days ago you published the views of Sir Harold Beauchamp on the cost of education. Like other critics of the present system Sir Harold Beauchamp commences by putting forward some utterly fallacious figures, calculated to alarm the public mind and predispose it to pay regard to what follows. Sir Harold’s panacea for our present ills, so far as education is concerned, is a curious compound of examination plus Toryism. He would rely on a “good stiff examination” to select those who should get a free place. Any person with any knowledge of education would tell him that examinations, especially stiff ones, are an exceedingly unreliable test of mental value, and arc no test at all ol any other value. So the good stiff examination test may be ruled out, in favour of some more rational course. For the rest, Sir Harold would restrict secondary education to those who can pay for it. Good old Tory doctrine. Re--gardless of the need of the nation for the training of its intelligence, regardless of the right of equal opportunity, regardless of the deadly danger of an unenlightened proletariat, regardless of the mutual responsibility of the State to its people andof the peonle to the State, in fact, regardless of everything that really matters, Sir Harold would close the means of enlightenment against the great majority of the population. And what would be gained? The schools would have to be kept open, though some teachers would be sent to join the unemployed; a few thousands of pounds might be saved, but hundreds of lads and lassies would be turned loose on an already overcrowded labour market, there to add a very dangerous possibility to the already fully-charged magazine. In short, Sir Harold would remove the name of New Zealand from the list of enlightened nations. Even Russia has raised its school-leaving age to fifteen. Much more could be said, but why enlarge on the obvious?—l am, etc., H. A. PARKINSON, Secretary, N.Z.E.I. Wellington, August 27. Sir, —It is commonly stated that a former Minister of Education, who was responsible for unduly raising education costs in this country, boasted that during his term of office he was instrumental in practically doubling teachers’ salaries. This being the case, school teachers, with their short hours and ample holidays, have been singled out for better treatment than other Public Servants, and therefore their salaries should be entirely reviewed and re-established on a basis more in conformity with the rest of the community. I am quite aware of the harebrained 1 expenditure on schools and hostels; there is one in Wanganui (the notorious one with two foundation stones) which cost approximately £lOOO per boy in occupation and the interest on these ambitions dreams of the educationist must be paid. These same gentlemen have taken the bit in their teeth with a vengeance, even to propaganda, and I am at a loss to understand their hold on the Ministers of State. Let us return to the days of the three “R’s” and the cane, and we will rear more sterling men and less “cissies.”— I am, etc., ECONOMY. Wanganui August 23. Sir,—The Education Department have certainly got to become seized of the fact that curtailment has to be made under their control. The liberal chances that are offered to every scholar to benefit by secondary schools is such that one can quite appreciate the fact that the cost of education in such higher branches has brought about a very high percentage of the huge cost that the Dominion, and, of course, the taxpayer, has to face. It would be interesting to discover what is the ultimate benefit obtained by the majority of these scholars. Many years ago a sixth standard education was looked upon as the acme of perfection with an advancement to the higher sixth, and I am sure that 1 those scholars of bygone days are quite as well fitted or were quite as well fitted for the general opportunities which occurred for fitting them ultimately for other walks of life, as a large number -which had the benefit of “colleges.” I readily grant, of course, that to a number of youths and girls it is absolutely necessary that they should, have the higher course, and the only thing, to do is to increase the standard of schooling in the higher classes, which would strain the endeavours of the individuals fitted to go further ahead and which would also, result in the weeding out of many who attended the secondary schools, purely for the sake of having been through such a curriculum. Then again, there is no reason why the old private school should not come into existence again, and such “houses.” I am sure, would appeal to those who are best able to send their sons, also daughters, at their own expense. This would also absorb any undue surplus of teachers. Many a lad or girl would receive at the primary schools with a stronger examination paper all the learning that would equip them throughout life and those possessed with the “earnest of endeavour" would win through and reap the benefit of their special attainments and desires. —I am. etc., R. F. E. FILDES. Wellington, August 20.