CENTRALISATION Of COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

Grey River Argus, 9 May 1912, Page 8

CENTRALISATION Of COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

■■ . — ■ o .... _, . (Per Press Association). CHRISTOHURCH, May 7. In the course of an interview to-day the attention of the Minis.cr of Education was drawn to the recommendations of the South Canterbury school teachers a: their meeting" on Saturday last relative to the centralisation of country schools. The Hon. Mr. Hanan said that his predecessor had endeavoured to do what he could I in that direction, but Mr. Fowlds experience was exactly the same as his own — namely, that he had to contend with very strong- local opposition wnene'ver it was proposed to close a particular school. He quite recognised v'hat centralisation would be less costly and would make for greater efficiency and instruction. • The argu ments advanced by the South Canterbury Teachers were qu'i-te logical, but he was sa:isfied that any Minister of Education would meet, with tho greatest opposition both in the. House and 'in -he country if lie tried to give effect vo the" policy of centralisation. With parents hostile to the closing of a school, it was possible and even probable, that many children would be deprived of ahe benefits of education if ceiKralisarion were adopted. Many of the children would be beyond ihe compulsory radius, and therein Jay a great difficulty. The outsider might think tha/; it would be an easy thing to g<ive effect to ihe proposal made, but both Mr. Fowlds and myself had found that 'there were read lifnculties in the way.