HIGH SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 11

HIGH SCHOOLS

Proposed Abolition of Boards PROTEST TO MINISTER Reasons for the opposition of rhe conference of secondary school boards to the abolition of the secondary boards were given to the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, by a deputation from the conference which waited upon him yesterday morning. It was contended by the deputation that centralisation of administration in the department in' Wellington would not be in the best interests of secondary education in New Zealand. The deputation was introduced by Colonel G. J. Smith, M.L.C. Professor G. E. Thompson, of Otago University, said a policy of centralisation in education was quite alien to the traditions and spirit of British institutions. Such a policy was opposed to the sentiment of the New Zealand people and quite contrary to the trend of opinion in the Old Country, where they obtained most of their ideas and traditions. Centralisation would deprive the Dominion of the knowledge anti initiative of experienced men and women, who made up the membership of secondary boards. The personnel of high school boards was made up of members with expert and loeal knowledge, who could be trusted to carry out the instructions of the department to economise. Expert Local Knowledge. The importance of expert local knowledge iu the administration of endowments was stressed by Professor Thompson. The conference, in fact, was in favour of a move in the opposite direction to tjiat recommended by the National Expenditure Commission, and advocated a policy of decentralisation. Board members were well seized with the needs of the times and as anxious as any department to conserve the finances of the Dominion. The conference was also of opinion that senior free places should not terminate earlier than at present. The proposal to curtail the period of tenure of free , places by two years and to lower the maximum age to 17 was a serious and far-reaching proposal. Other speakers were Mr. D. McFarlane, chairman of the Wanganui Girls’ College; Mr. C. E.' G. Tisdall, secretary of the Auckland Grammar School Board; Mr. C. R. Fell, of Nelson; and Mr. G. Mitchell, chairman of the Wellington Colleges’ Board of Governors. Reply By Minister.

The Minister gave an assurance tliat he recognised the value of the services the board members rendered to the community, but he added that it did not necessarily follow that the services of those gentlemen would be lost if unification took place, “I would not suggest for a moment," said Mr. Masters, “that-if the secondary school boards were abolished as secondary boards they would be handed over holus bolus to die education boards that happen to be iu the district. Representation would naturally be made for all classes of the community, and the services of the gentlemen who have - served the secondary schools would be retained to administer the secondary schools.” So far as the value of the proposed economy was concerned, Mr. Masters said that on the face of it It would not appear to be a very considerable saving, for after all £6OOO was not a great amount; but it’was a question of the saving that might be brought about in conjunction with the other proposals. Mr. Masters expressed appreciation of the statements with regard to the administration of endowments, and said that it clearly indicated that the management of the endowments was In very safe hands under the boards. He also appreciated what had been done by the pupils’ associations, but he suggested that their work was inspired by love for their old school and pride in its traditions. The Minister stressed the importance of the question of the termination of the senior free place age, and said that no decision had yet been reached, because of varying opinions. The commission had rconnnended that the free places terminate at 17 years of age, but the technical school boards desired an extension to 18. A compromise would have a considerable bearing on cost. It would appear that there was a difference of opinion in the secondary schools as to the age for the leaving certificate. The deputation’s representations would be submitted to Cabinet before any decisions were come to. MANUAL TRAINING Teachers Approach Minister Exception to the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission in respect of manual instruction in schools was taken by a deputation of teachers which waited upon the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, yesterday morning. The deputation was introduced by Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. for Wellington Suburbs, and the. deputation’s case was put to the Minister by Mr. A; A. Brown, supervisor of manual training for the Wellington Education Board, Mrs. K. Johnstone, teacher of domestic* science at the Mount Cook training centre, and Professor W. H. Gould, Professor of Education at Victoria University College. The Minister said that he had been hopeful that the deputation would have suggested avenues in which economies could be carried out with the least amount of injustice to those affected, and he asked them to consider the possible alternatives. The National Expenditure Commission recommended that manual training be confined to the sixth standards of the four main centres, and that it be eliminated from the country schools, but the Government would not agree to this proposal. The country school children were entitled to the same facilities as those in the towns. Economies would be made in manual training, and he hoped with a minimum of hardship.