SCHOOL REFORMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 108, 10 May 1938, Page 12

SCHOOL REFORMS

MINISTER'S REVIEW

GOVERNMENT'S RECORD

INCREASED GRANTS

A comprehensive review of the educational reforms carried out by the Government to date was given by the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) when addressing a combined meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute, the New Zealand Technical School Teachers' Association, and the New Zealand Secondary School Teachcrs' Association today. In comparing expenditure prior to and since the year 1935-36, the Minister said that the small amount spent prior to 1936 necessarily meant a large increased expenditure in latter years. It was only fair to say that none of the extra expenditure on education had' been questioned or opposed from the Opposition benches in the House of Representatives. His audience would agree, however, that he did not exaggerate two years ago when he had said that it would take millions of money to bring school buildings up to an adequate standard. One of the great difficulties at the present time was the securing of competent draughtsmen.

"During the two years and five months in which the Government has been in office, grants amounting to £1,380,066 have been made for school buildings," said the Minister. "Of that amount £826,960 was approved in respect of primary schools, allocated as follows: —New schools, £352,775; additions, £253,323; remodelling, £24,472; residences, £78,499; sites, £80,582; miscellaneous, £37,309; total for primary schools, £826,960. "The amounts granted for secondary schools were as follows:—Technical schools, £154,356; university colleges, £118,388; training colleges, £49,368; Native schools, £87,760. "The total amount for other than primary school buildings was £553,106. The following is a summary of grants for school buildings and sites, December 6, 1935, to March 1938:—Schools, new and rebuilt, £425,997; additions, £622,392; remodelling, £48.359; residences, £91,785; sites, £112.270; mis' cellaneous, £79,263; total, £1,380,066. In the two years 1932-33 and 1933-34 the amount of grants authorised for such school buildings was £128,610. In the two years 1934-35 and 1935-36 the amount of grants authorised for school buildings was £428,600. The provision by Public Works appropriations for capital expenditure on buildings was £500,000 in 1936.-37 and £550,000 in 1937-38, as against £180,000 plus £23,060 from the Unemployment Fund (£203,060) in 1935-36. For the general maintenance of school buildings, including ground improvements and strengthening against earthquakes, the total amount appropriated was £79,560 in 1935-36, £186,300 in 1936-37, and £249,750 in 1937-38. LARGER CLASSROOMS. It was decided, said the Minister, to increase the size of the standard classroom 24ft x 22ft to 26ft x 24ft. The grants for school committee incidentals were increased from £104,000 in 1935-36 to £156,000 in 1936-37 (£16,000 being specially provided for improvements in school grounds). The sum of £156,000 was again provided for the year ending March 31, 1938. The incidental grants for secondary schools was increased by nearly £7000 in 193637 and over £10,000 in 1937-38, as compared with 1935-36. There was also a substantial increase in the appropriations for incidental expenses of technical schools. . Grants had been made of two-thirds of the cost of the assembly halls of post-primary schools, and he was looking forward to the time when something similar would be done for primary schools. Although kindergartens did not form part of the recognised State school system, grants had been made to the Kindergarten Association for many years, but they were cut out in the financial years ending March 31, 1933, 1934, and 1935. They were partially restored in 1935-36, the amount voted being £3510. In 1936-37 this was increased to £6000, and in 1937-38 the sum of £10,000 was appropriated. Previously the five-year-olds had been excluded from the schools, but on the reopening of the schools on February 1, 1936, any child who had attained the aee of five years became eligible for enrolment. On July 1, 1933, there were 1908 children on the rolls of public schools aged 5 years; on July 1, 1934 2021; on July 1, 1935, 2600; on July 1, 1936, the number had increased to 17,653; and on July 1, .1937, there were 17,398. Thus, in 1936, over 15,000 children were permitted to enrol at school a year earlier as a result of lowering the age of enrolment. HEALTH SERVICES. During the last two years and five months, four additional school med V^ l officers have been appointed, five additional school nurses, as well as twelve additional district nurses, who usually do school work, as well as carrying out their other duties, have also been appointed, he said. , ,i_ ± "On assuming office I discovered that the number, of new trainees allowed for in the dental clinic for the following year was only 30, and that-num-ber was barely sufficient to maintain the existing system. In J 93 ® the number was increased to 50. in 1937 it was increased to 75, and again in 1938 to 75. At the present time there are 140 in training. A considerable number of these will shortly be available for work in the school clinics throughout

the country. Twenty new clinics are being established in districts where until now this service has hot been available; a number of existing clinics has been strengthened so that more children can be treated."

Dealing with the milk in schools schcme, the Minister said .that 85 per cent, of the children accepted the milk. The total school population of the Dominion was approximately 282,000, and at the present time over 137,000 were being supplied daily. New schemes and extensions of existing schemes had been arranged to include a further 14,600 children. When the schemes were functioning the total number receiving milk would be in the vicinity of 151,000, or approximately 53 per cent, of the total school population. Allowing for the 15 per cent, who did not partake of the daily issue of milk, that meant the milk was actually available to 177,000, or over 61 per cent, of the school child population. It was estimated that some 8000 Maori children would receive the benefits of the malted milk scheme in the near future. That meant that within fourteen months of the inception of the scheme, the milk would be available to approximately 185,000, or over 65 per cent, of the school child population. For the financial year ended March 31, 1938, the scheme cost £78,270. OTHER INCREASES. ' The Wellington and Dunedin training colleges had been reopened,- and the allowance to students had been increased from £20 to £70, plus £30 for students away from home. The number of students had increased from 428 in 1935 to 1500 at the present time. In 1936 it was decided to grade primary schools on 95 per cent, of their roll number at March 31. In 1937 schools were again graded on 95 per cent., and this year schools had been graded on the average roll number for the first four weeks of the third term of the preceding year.

Training colleges had received increased grants. The board allowance for primary school children, which was discontinued in 1933 and partially restored in 1935, was increased from 5s to 7s 6d in 1937, and last year an amount of £7500 was made available. In 1935 £2899 was spent, and in 1936-37 £4501 was spent.

Appropriations for school buses had increased from £1000 in 1935 to £14,500 this year. Last year many new conveyance services were established, and the amount for these services had increased from £64,000 in 1935 to £95,000 this year. The vote for handwork material had increased from £7000 to £14,000.

Other items on which expenditure had been increased were manual and technical instruction (abolished in 1932, £3000 voted yearly since); agricultural clubs (£3OO to £750); school and class libraries (£I2OO in 1935 to £5000 this year); Native scholarships (£5250 in 1935 to £8300 this year); manual and science capitation (£3OOO in 1935 to £6200 this year); University national bursaries (£2700 in 1935 to £20,445 this year, under new regulations); free school books (£IOOO yearly); typewriters (£3OOO, a new item); swimming instruction (£I2OO for education boards, and £560 to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association); country library scheme (£3000).

Grants formerly enjoyed by the Workers' Education Association were restored in 1936, provision being made for the payment of £500 to the association and £750 to each of the four University colleges to assist the association in its work. For the year 1937-38 an amount of £6500 was provided. The sum of £1000 had been set aside for adult education apart from the Workers' Education Association work. A Council of Adult Education had been established, and this council would, he hoped, be given statutory powers.