THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 6 May 1914, Page 4

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

We regret to learn that the Minister of Education has declined to sanction the proposals favored by the Education Board, the Hawera school committee, and the community generally with respect to secondary education matters in Hawera. The decision is conveyed in the following letter addressed to Mr P. O'Dea:—"Education Department, Wellington, 29th April.— Sir, —In reference to your recent interview with the Minister of Education in regard to the proposal to disestablish the Hawera District High School and establish in its place a day Technical School having complete professional, public service, and agricultural courses, but with especial stress on agricultural training, I am directed to inform you that after careful consideration of the circumstances, the Minister is unable to see his way to sanction the proposal." We do not know what consideration has been given to the "circumstances," but if the Minister or his officers made due enquiry they'would find that the "circumstances" really do demand sanction of the proposal. Educational matters in. Hawera are and for a long time have been in a most unsatisfactory state, and°the Minister and the Department may be assured that the people will not rest satisfied until some better provision is made. We invite the Minister to send an officer up to enquire and contrast the conditions in Hawera, and those in (say) Stratford. We have no doubt he would report that the people of Hawera and • the surrounding district have good reasons for being dissatisfied.