PRIMARY EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 5

PRIMARY EDUCATION

LABOUR MEMBER'S APPEAL STANDARD MUST BE KEPT UP [Bpaeut. to tu * Stak.’] CHRISTCHURCH, December IS. Urging all parents to keep a very watchful eyo on primary education, Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., speaking at tbo prize distribution at the West Bpreydon School, said there were indications that an attack was coming on the education vote. Already the subsidies bad been curtailed. From interested quarters there were suggestions being sent forward for what was termed “ economy,” but in ordinary language this simply meant a plea for a reduction in the education vote. It was poor economy to attack the children iu that way. He resented the recent attacks made on our youths, and bo was confident that our children who left the primary schools to-day wore at least three years older psychologically than tile children of Ids school days. In a knowledge of the arts and sciences they were much ahead of the children of thirty or forty years ago. Tbo average boy or girl coidd give a very good outline of electricity or aviation and of wireless communication. They not only knew what could be done, but they understood the .principles underlying those things. Ho was not opposed to" what was termed an agricultural bits, but be would prefer a bias toward science. Wc could teach the art of agriculture, but the boy who understood the science of agriculture would make the best agriculturist, and understanding the science of agriculture bo would understand the science of many other things of life. He would again urge the parents to keep their eyes and ears open for any attack on the primary education vote and to make their voices heard if such an attack wis attempted.