EDUCATION PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 11

EDUCATION PROBLEMS

Co-operation of Teaching Profession Needed APPEAL BY MINISTER The difficulties confronting a “mere Minister of Education” in attacking present-day educational problems were traversed by the Hon. I’. Fraser in an address yesterday afternoon to the delegates of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Secondary Schools’ Association and Technical School Teachers’ Association conferences.' When travelled and well-informed men who were entitled to be recognised as authorities reached widely differing conclusions, the Minister said, the gathering would understand his dilemma and he appealed for the co-op-eration of all sections for the good of the child. Mr. A. C. Keys (Christchurch), in welcoming the Minister, who was accompanied by Mrs. Fraser, said that all teachers appreciated the sincerity and earnestness already evident in the work he had done since assuming office. Teachers and people generally, Mr. Fraser said, had to ask themselves what exactly were they trying to accomplish. Did the present technique of education—the equipment of schools, of examination and of grading systems —really embody their conception of what schooling and education should be? The industrial system had formerly required a minimum of education and had fostered the competitive spirit in its worst aspect; position, place and often bread had been the dominating ideas of the education of that period and had in fact dictated the form of that education. Fortunately, however, that general idea was receding and was being replaced by a spirit of co-opera-tion in education. Therefore they should endeavour to clarify their ideas and to think not in terms of 50, 40, or 30 years ago, but of the present age, its requirements, ideals and aspirations. He did not want to hear propaganda, Mr. Fraser added, but rather an examination of the position, a scientific and unprejudiced approach to all the matters confronting them. Mr. Fraser dealt with several of the problems of present-day education in New Zealand, commenting briefly on n number of the remits brought forward by the executive. The Government, lie said, was in entire accord with many of them and it was only a matter of time when he hoped finance and opportunity would permit of their being carried out. The unification of all forms of education was favoured by the Minister, who appealed to the teachers not to let vested interests affect their views toward the various forms of education — primary, intermediate, technical and secondary. Referring to the size of classes, the Minister gave an assurance that as fast as the teachers could be trained and accommodation provided, so would the classes be reduced to a reasonable size. “The present Government is sincere in asking you, whether you are interterested in secondary, primary, technical or university education,” said the Minister in conclusion, “for your cooperation and assistance in endeavouring to make our educational system second to none in the world.” . A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. G. F. Griffiths, was carried by acclamation.