Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, March 28, 1928. THE COSTS OF EDUCATION.

Grey River Argus, 28 March 1928, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, March 28, 1928. THE COSTS OF EDUCATION.

It is generally conceded that the money devoted by a country to education is well spent, and judged by that standard New Zealand can bear comparison with most other lands, but the question now is being raised as to whether the best value is being obtained for the outlay in the Dominion. Tt runs into more than three millions annually, and the Minister latterly has adopted a policy of economy. It is, of course, economy with limitations. He is uncertain, for instance, whether the next decade or two may not see a radical change in the form of the school buildings, and suggests that wooden structures may in the circumstances be to-day more economical, from a long time viewpoint, than brick ones, which would be more costly to alter in the future. There certainly has been a departure already from the plans of Sir James Parr, and the types of schools have yet to be finalised. There is a demand, for instance, for the reduction of the size of classes, it being contended that justice cannot be done the scholars under present conditions. This contention is sound, but it is unlikely to be given effect in the immediate future, for several reasons. One is that it would require the immediate expenditure of a large sum to provide the additional accommodation necessary at the existing schools. Secondly, it would mean a largely increased annual and recurring outlay upon salaries. The Minister at present is obviously bent upon preventing the growth of the education vote in the same ratio that it has been increasing during the past ten years. Several members of the Cabinet have insisted that past increases have

arisen from the need to make up leeway in school building-, which was slackened during the warperiod. The most urgent influence behind the demand of late for' smaller classes has been the increase in the number of teachers. So great has it been that there are not enough places, and thus a growing proportion of the newly-fledged teachers are beingleft without positions. Apparently there are being more trained than are actually necessary, but there is another aspect of the matter to consider. All of the new teachers leave the four training colleges together, so that, before reducing the number of trainees, it might be wise to vary the present system by turning out certificated teachers at two different periods in. the year. It is pointed out that such a change would be attended with difficulty owing to the necessity for trainees to attend several university classes in order to secure a _C certificate, the old D classification having fallen into disrepute because of the store set upon personal attainments, but in ■'cw of the alternative, namely, the training of a smaller number, there might be means found to effect a change with the co-opera-tion of those most interested. The curriculum nowadays tends to spread over a great variety of subjects, but it is a question whether the additions are not being made at the expense of thorough grounding in the old fundamentals. The cost of education has grown in greater ratio than the number of pupils in the Dominion, but it has been spread over the whole community, and it is only latterly that parents with large families have felt it in any degree. This is due chiefly to the increase in the number of books, a result of the extra subjects. Some time ago the Department tried to limit the expense of class books, and to establish a uniform selection, so that parents moving from place to place would not need to buy a new outfit of books. Indeed, there is yearly published a list of the only class books which teachers in the. public schools shall be authorised to require the pupils to purchase, but this direction—a statutory one—has been ignored. The Education Department has put it, on record that no fewer than eighteen thousand copies of an unauthorised series of books have been, bought by primary school pupils at the direction of their teachers; and that efforts have been made to introduce other

unauthorised books. The Director of Education warns parents not to buy text books which may become unnecessary. This warning is likely to prove ineffective. The real remedy is for the State to provide every school pupil in the country with the essential text books and other school literature. Such an innovation might do more good than the training of so many teachers, or the launching of so many new-fangled alterations in the system as a whole. In the not distant future a great deal of schooling may be conducted in the open air, and vocational training may begin earlier, and may be carried on side by side with tuition jn the general subjects. At anyrate, with the vote yearly augmented—and nobody will oppose this increase if there is no waste—it is essential that the best value be obtained, and this is the responsibility of the heads of the Department.