The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1927. PUBLIC INTEREST IN EDUCATION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 November 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1927. PUBLIC INTEREST IN EDUCATION

Delivered every evening: by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Mana.ia, Normanby, Okaiawa. Eltham, Mangratoki. Kapongn, Alton, Hurley ville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangat, Meremere, Fraser Road and Ararata

An Association for the Advancement of Education has been established in Wellington, and, according to its organisers, it is hoped to extend the movement to every centre in New Zealand. At first glance there does not appear to be anything very interesting in this announcement, for the associations, leagues and societies which exist in New Zealand, hold conferences and adopt resolutions relative to almost every conceivable subject, are legion. But this association has something more to recommend it than the enthusiasm of a few earnest workers in the cause of education; there is work for it to do if it goes about it on the right lines. Judging by the report of the first meeting convened by the association (published in “The Hawera Star” yesterday), the association is, thus early in its career at least, proceeding on very commendable lines. At that meeting it had three speakers on the. subject of “The Proposed Abolition of Education Boards: Would it mean Centralisation The three speakers did not coincide in their ideas, and though there was a conflict of views, each contributed something useful for consideration. We did not know that the abolition of education boards had been actually “proposed,” but we do not imagine that the association had been mislead by recent controversy to the point of believing that there was ever a proposal before the country to achieve the end it fears. A feature of the movement which pleases is the clear indication it has given that it is out to obtain information on the subject of education. If it were composed of a band of enthusiasts who had already made up their minds that they knew all about the subject and only sought in new members those who subscribed to their views, the movement would be valueless, but it has made it plain that it has no policy and is prepared to search for one. Tn the circular it has sent out, it announces that it aims to arouse wide public interest in education, to investigate existing conditions, good and bad, and to take means of making the public aware of them; further, to “bring the large body of parents into vital touch with the

schools.” These are all good obpects and they do not suffer becaues the association aims so high as “to be instrumental in putting New Zealand in the van of educational progress.” Its other aims are suSiciently practicable to make this expression of its ultimate ideals excusable. The greatest work awaiting the organisation is assuredly that of “arousing wide public interest in education.” If the association succeeds in this in the first few years of its existence, its time will have been well-spent and members -will have received good value for the modest subscription which they arc invited to make. The association has been careful to explain that it has no policy in regard to education boards or any other detail of education, but it does seek to make itself a forum where all shades of opinion may be expressed in the hope that out of an intelligent study of the problems met, a .practical policy will be evolved. The apathy of the parents is the first obstacle the association will encounter. It will find, particularly in the larger centres, that many parents know nothing about the education system and have no curiosity in that respect. It has been argued that the whittling away of the powers of school committees and boards is responsible for this state of mind, but if the truth were discovered, it would probably be found that the Department has not so much induced apathy by its actions, as to take advantage of the apathy already existent to encroach still further on the legitimate field of the parents’ representatives. Whether the indifference of the majority of the parents is the cause or the effect, the fact remains that parents are indifferent. It is useless to talk of the rights of the. parents to a voice in the develop- 1 mont of the system so long as parents are too apathetic to attend the annual householders’ meetings. The speakers at the first meeting of the association, though they expressed differing views as to the dangers or desirability of centralisation of control, were at one on the point that there was distinct danger of the children being standardised if certain well-meaning enthusiasts were allowed to gain control of the system, and if they can prevail upon the public to take an interest in the education of the children from this point of view alone, they will be doing useful work and will have taken the first step toward their ultimate goal. The future of this praiseworthy effort will be ■watched with interest.