EDUCATION IN N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1935, Page 3

EDUCATION IN N.Z.

CLEAR POLICY REQUESTED

The Government Election Manifesto, .•eferring to its education policy, speaks vaguely of “revision and improve! nent,” states Air J. L. Menzies, presilent of the Westland branch of the \ T eiv Zealand Educational Institute t°lay. “It will be readily granted that revision and improvement are urgently

necessary, but, despite the fact that 1 many educational institutions have sought a more exact statement of the Government’s proposals no definite pronouncement has yet been made. “The Parliamentary Education Committee, the majority of which were Government members, recommended, for instance, that “most favourable consideration” be given to the petitions seeking the readmission of the five-year-olds. But the Government is silent in the point. The thousands of petitioners concerned are at least entitled to enlightenment in the matter. “Again, there is .urgent-matter of L lie size of classes. Since the period of retrenchment, there has been a steady

tendency to an increase in the size of classes, Individual attention is impossible in a class of fifty or more children, and general efficiency suffers as a result. But here, too, the Government preserves silence on a matter clamouring for attention. “The public,- therefore, needs more detailed information before it can form an intelligent opinion on matters which vitally jfffeot a quarter of a million -children. Silence may reasonably bo construed as .a sign that the Government is satisfied with existing coriditions/or that it fails to appreciate the profofirid importance of these questions.” "