FIRST ATTACK LAUNCHED

Evening Star, Issue 21054, 17 March 1932, Page 2

FIRST ATTACK LAUNCHED

ECONOMY COMMISSION’S SCHEME OPPOSED l "NO PRETENCE OF TAKING EVIDENCE" TRENCHANT CRITICISM FROM HIGH SCHOOLS' BOARD From the reception accorded the educational administration amendments contained in the Economy Commission’s recommendations at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago High Schools’ Board, it seems highly probable that the rauchdiscusscd report is to meet with stiff opposition from the school boards and administrative bodies. The High Schools’ Board launched an immediate attack on the proposals, the recommendations being trenchantly criticised by members. On the motion of Mr J. C. Stephens, the following resolutions were carried ; v “ That this board is firmly convinced that the abolition of the secondary school boards and the centralisation of control in Wellington is contrary to the best interests _of the secondary schools of the dominion. “ That the Minister of Education bo asked for an assurance that before ■any legislation affecting the control of the secondary schools of the dpminion is promoted the secondary schools’ boards will have an opportunity of considering the proiposed legislation in conference and placing their views before him. “ That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Minister.”

Mr Stephens said that they had re-1 cently received praise from the Minister of Education for the efficient man-' ne? in which the board had managed its affairs. It canje as a somewhat rude shock after that to find that the Economy Commission had recommended the abolition of a board which has existed for over half a century—and not only the High Schools’ Board, but all boards. Whatever resolution the. board passed on the subject it would get no credit for taking _ a detached view, but surely the opinions of men and women who had spent many years in educational administration were worth considering. In his own case, he could truty say that he would view the fiat to retire into private life—if it came—with the same equanimity with which lie would have regarded the refusal of the parents to re-elect him. Ho undertook service to the board because he regarded it as a duty he owed the State, and if the State aid not require Ills services he would be quite content. He had no right to speak for- other members of the board, but ho was sure that they were actuated by the same principles. • “This question,” proceeded- Mr Stephens, “ must be reviewed from only one aspect, that of the interests of the State, and intimately bound up in that are the interests of the future citizens of_ the State. This is the second commission that has made a pronouncement on educational administration, although' the first was not technically a commission, but a Parliamentary Committee. On neither commission was there any educationist of experience. The first commission rushed through the dominion (I almost said scampered through). It certainly took some evidence, but gave an altogether made-' quato’ opportunity to experienced men and women to place their views before it. In Dunedin, for instance, the only official intimation was received by telephone three days (of which part was a week-end) before they were to sit. In view of tho importance of the question before them this was farcical. The present commission does not even make a pretence of taking evidence, except, of course, from the department. Tho view of the department is well known, and has been in evidence for many years. It is that all education matters shall bo administered from Wellington. Previous commissions in New Zealandhave condemned this proposal. Even tho Atmore Commission was not in favour of it. That commission recommended tho abolition of secondary school boards, including technical high school boards, and the vesting of their functions in one board, the Education Board. The report of the Atmore Commission received a-chorus of approval from primary teachers’ associations and from school committees. It is significant, however, that no approval has been expressed by tho Secondary Teachers’ Association. It is also significant that when a leading primary school teacher from another district gave an address in Dunedin on the report his approval was wholly based on tho wider opportunity it would give to primary school teachers.”

He thought the members of the board would agree that some reduction might be made in the expenditure on education without loss of efficiency. A large part of that expenditure consisted of the cost of new buildings, but he wondered if the department supplied the present commission with particulars o' the extravagant expenditure on build ings in the northern part of the dominion (not excluding Nelson) during recent years. The commission estimated a saving of £50,000 per annum if all board's wore abolished. The members of the Otago High Schools’ Board gave many hours of voluntary service to necessary work ■of administration, and that work must bo done by somebody. If they multiplied the work of the board by that of all the other boards in the dominion it would readily be seen that the present staff of the department ciuld not possibly cope with that mass of detail. There must therefore be an increase in

tho number of public servants. Had that cost been debited to tho estimated saving? - Tho great majority of those interested in education had always been opposed to bureaucratic and centralised control. It had been creeping in more and more, almost stealthily, in recent years, but that was no reason why they should give up tho last remnants without a protest. He was not prepared to admit that centralised control would mean economy. In his opinion it would not be for the benefit of either teachers or pupils. No one was qualified to give a decision on local problems so well as people in the district. It was suggested that boards should be replaced by school councils, but these were, however, to have no powers. Some of the members of the Otago High Schools’ Board gave up to the service of the board time which they would otherwise employ in their ordinary avocations, and that service involved a very real pecuniary sacrifice. It was not to be expected that they would accept a position on a body that had no powers. It was duo to the initiative, Enterprise, and generosity of Dunedin citizens that the Technical School was first established —a system that was now national. There was another aspect which more immediately affected the board and the schools under its control. When its schools were established certain lands were vested in the board as an endowment. When free education was first established these endowment lands were, in effect, placed in a common pool, and the allowance to the board was reduced by tho amount of the rents it received. Such revolutionary changes were proposed that it was not impossible that free secondary education might be discontinued, and if that should be done after the board was abolished and the property of the board was vested in the State tho people of Dunedin would be unable ,to re-establish the schools even on the old basis.

There was another financial question. With care and economy the board had accumulated a reserve fund with the object, amongst other things, of establishing a girls’ hostel. There was also a depreciation fund-in connection with the rectory. If the board, was abolished and all its property vested in the State what chance was there of its schools reaping the benefit of this money? Ho commended this aspect to the Ex-Girls’ Association and the Old Boys’ Association.

The motions were seconded by the Hon. D. T. Fleming, who added that it was_ quite true that education was costing too much in New Zealand, and some curtailment was inevitable. As far as the board was concerned, its expenditure was not incurred by the board itself but by regulations imposed by the department. Dr Marshall Macdonald said that a great deal of the efficiency of the board was due to the very able way its business was managed by the secretary (Mr M'Lean). If the recommendations of the commission meant that in his place would be the administration of clerks in Wellington the schools would suffer enormously. It was extraordinary that

business men should make such sweeping recommendations simply on tho advice of the department and without the evidence and opinions of tho boards and administrators, those who were qualified to give that evidence. Mr R. S. Black stated that the people of Otago would be behind the board in the matter of preserving its lands and endoAvments. The chairman (Dr G. E. Thompson) said, that he did not think that the commission realised that it was putting higher education at the parting of the ways. He pointed out what tho denial of bursaries would mean to people in poorer circumstances. There had been criticism to tho effect that bursaries were given too easily. That might, he, but to abolish them was too rough and ready an action. It was possible to substitute a lesser bursary scheme, one that would preserve the democratic foundations of higher education. The resolutions were then carried. Mr Stephens thought that the Minister . should be asked to call a meeting of boards and hear their opinions. It was finally decided that a subcommittee, consisting of tho chairman, Messrs Stephens, and Mallard, should present a report to a special meeting of the board.