FREE PLACES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 95, 19 October 1931, Page 6

FREE PLACES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The fear of the teachers that an attack would be made on the free place system was justified. The' Education Department, whether acting' under superior directions or otherwise, has announced that there will be no accrediting this year. There is ample evidence, too, that ;the chijdren, sitting for the proficiency examination this year are going to be set a much "stiffer": examination than that set previously. In other words, the, Minister of Education's assurance that the free place system was:safe wag an opiative. When the parents awaken they will find their children's education cut off at the sixth standard. If it were not for the injustice'to the child of to-day I would say that this was a good move. Parents would be stimulated to do something for themselves. The annual meetings of _ householders would elect committees which would take an interest in education and not be content merely to order coal, or run bazaars. Live school committees would elect live: education boards, and instead of having boards puncturing the tire of "the education machine we should find them initiating movements. We should find them justifying their existence. In the meantime, children are threatened.—l am, etc., PARENT. (To the Editor.) Sir,—As a former free place holder who benefited beyond the range of calculation by the educational opportunities presented, and who has two younger brothers attending a primary school, may I be permitted to warn parents of what the Government is doing? I am told on good authority that although it was stated recently that there was no. intention of; abolishing free places, the qualifying examination :is to be made so difficult that only a relatively small percentage of candidates can possibly hope to be successful in obtaining a free place. If this is carried into effect it would appear that only the most studious, "bookish" type of children will be.able to secure free secondary education; so that a large proportion of children of average (und even beyond the average) intelligence, and who will form the bulk of our citizens of the future, will be excluded from the secondary schools, unless their parents can afford to pay for their attendance. It seems to:, the writer that this proposed interference with the free place system must be opposed to modern educational ideas and principles, and it is to be. hoped it will\ not be tolerated!., by. the people of this progressive Dominion.—l am, etc., ■•' ' ■■■• '■ ' >■'.':' :■■■•■■ APPREHENSIVE.

It may be necessary to increase the charge on wages and salaries ':■ (writes '"D.G.G."). As a married family man I desire to draw attention to a point which seems to have been overlooked. If a married man with children can pay 5d in the £ tax, a single man, or a childless married man, should pay more*. In so-called steady billets a man's circumstances and responsibilities are known to thosein authority;so that an attempt to evade the tax would be nullified. In casual billets, a man who declared to his employer for % exemption for a family, would, on termination of employment, take a copy of the declaration signed by his late employer, to the Labour Bureau.