TOO MANY OR TOO FEW?

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 15, 18 July 1923, Page 6

TOO MANY OR TOO FEW?

EDUCATION BOARD MEMBERS.

The proposed reduction of the membership of Education. Boards, was warmly discussed by' the Wellington Education Board to-day. ,

Protests were received from :MK R. M'Callum. the Wanganui Education Board, and the Blenheim School Commit tee.. ' ■. '• ■'-• - .•■■-■ '=■: -'- .■:

Mr. T. Moss -'said-that the Wellington Board was most unfairly placed. ( The Wairarapa was inadequately represented, covering as it did. about 80 miles in each direction. Some of its roads were inpassable at this time of theyear. Personally, he had to travel 21.miles to school over bad roads, and there were schools 31 miles beyond that. The De.partment. should give the board discretionary powers to determine the representation of-each district. In the opinion of the board it would be advisable to have a more equitable representation of districts. '■

- Mr. G. T. London, acting-chairman, said that, as it was with the present representation, it was difficult for members to fulfil their duties.

Mr. Moss: "I can't do..justice to my district.-' . . ■ , ••.'■.....

Mr. London declared that they should strongly urge on the Government that the present was the "cheapest system of representation that could be commanded. The boards were the intermediaries between the Government arid the teachers for the ' control of education. It was a work that required a good deal of stimulation, and visible concern was shown by members of boards to become better acquainted with teachers in their worm. It was all to the good of-education that teachers should be shown appreciation of their work. The board should strenuously oppose any reduction of representation, and, indeed, advocate an increase of representation. :

Mr. C. I. Harkness said it-was most unfortunate that this call for reductions should come along when there was a real need; f6r increased and additional representation in some districts.

The motion was adopted unanimously: "That discretionary power be given to boards to- determine the representation for each unit of area in the education district." ■ ; -...'■. -'•■-.