"A WISE STEP"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 11 November 1930, Page 14

"A WISE STEP"

ASSOCIATIONS TO UNITE

EDUCATIONAL .BODIES

"The decision that tho two bodies' amalgamate, is a very wise step indeed," said Mr. N. A. Ingram, president of the Wellington Federation of | Education Associations, at last night's meeting of tho Wellington School Com- j mittee's Association, when it'was i unanimously agreed1 that the two associations should unite. The name of the now body^ will bo tho Wellington School i Committees and Educational | Federation." j Mr. Ingram said that thoro had j been a good deal of over-lapping in the past, tho ideals of tho two organisations were the same and tho common aim was to improve education conditions. "The possibilities of the organisation you have formed to-night, and which will como into force in May, are great,'' "said Mr. Ingram. It was necessary to stand 6houlder. to shoulder with "the one idea of improving education, alid ■ the amalgamation, it was hoped/ would have that result. The .benefit of • the' organisation could be made a benefit to each school committee. To make it a total success it was necessary that each individual link up with it. Mr. Ingram spoke of the large sums of money spent on secondary education. When the association approached the Government for a grant for capitation, it was told there was no money available: Primary education was not getting as. large a share of education grants as was secondary education, and -it would not until tho parents joined- -together and demanded it as their just right. " As an Instance of the second place given to primary education, Mr. ■Ingram spoke on the overcrowding" in some of the schools. Where fifty or sisty children were crowded together, in on© ro"bm, under ono teacher, then it was purely a case of mass production in education. The overcrowding, and a teacher in charge of so ■ many children, was not doing justice to either the children or the teacher.