EDUCATION BOARDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1932, Page 7

EDUCATION BOARDS

MANY IMPORTANT DUTIES

The implication in the National Expenditure Commission's report that the bulk of the work of education boards is in the! payment of teachers' salaries is refuted in the report of the Education Boards' Association, which states that the method of payment of teachers' salaries has been s(o simplified and perfected that the preparation represents a quite inconsiderable part of administrative costs—under 2-per cent, in one large district—certainly under 3 per cent, on the average. "On the other hand a great deal of work is involved in making satisfactory provision for staff, the routine staff changes for efficient relieving, to provide at once for the unexpected vacancies resulting from sudden illness, resignation, or leave. We definitely assert that it would be impossiMeto carry out even this small section ol the boards' duties as satisfactorily and expeditiously in a central Department." The duties of boards as defined by statute are described as wide and important, and a lengthy list is given of the more important, also of the non-statutory duties. "Relying on the evidence of the Department only," the report adds, "the Commission was,, naturally, unacquainted with the great body of absolutely essential work devolving on the boards, when as md-yiduals they come into direct contact with individuals—not only teachers and committees, but individual members of the public. In New Zealand everyone is interested in education because everybody • shares in its management. Boards" elected by committees are directly in touch with them, and they in turn Jook to boards for help and guidance. Thus boards have a good .influence, and representing, as they do, a large number of committees, their opinions or requests carry, more weight than those of isolated committees. Another fact overlooked by the Commission is that boards are composed of successful business and professional men of wide experience whose opinions are freely reported, and thus keep alive public interest. Surely the opinion of such men should be welcomed Iby the Department."

.More than fifty boys who 'had been placed on probation recently spent a fortnight in camp at Hayling Island, England, as the guests of-Mr. Ivan E. SneJ], a Magistrate.