TEACHERS ASK FOR SMALLER CLASSES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6955, 8 July 1929, Page 9

TEACHERS ASK FOR SMALLER CLASSES

Illuminating Figures

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN SYMPATHY

Illuminating figures in respect of tho sizes of classes were presented by Mr. E. Bary, headmaster of Central school, to members of Parliament whom the Manawatu branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute met on Saturday afternoon to discuss educational matters.

Mr. Bary urged a reduction in tho size of classes as a means to better teaching and efficiency. He had secured a list of the classes of all the Palmerston North schools on June 28 last and had found that there were three clasess with 60 pupils and over, 5 from 55 to 59 pupils, 14 with from' 50 to 54, 16 with from 45 1 to 49, 17 with from 40 to 44 and six with from 35 to 39 students. It would be much better i? those classes were reduced for a start to 40 pupils. Mr. Bary produced further evidence of overcrowding. In ono infant department there were 249 children of whom 90 were new; that is, had just started school. They were in the charge of 5 teachers which meant an average of 50 per teacher who could not do justice to the children. In another school there were 52 infants under ono teacher; in another 182 under five teachers, which was 36 per teacher and that school was now in a different position from what it was in before the Russell Street school was opened. Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., asked if the Institute favoured 40 pupils per teacher.

Mr. Bary; Not in tho infant classes. The Institue’s aim is to eventually get the classes down to 35. He instanced other schools where 124 infants were under three teachers and 118 under three teachers. Large numbers in the infant classes was worse than big standard classes because the teachers were dealing with raw material. Air. Bary asked that tho members support any movement to have the sizes of classes reduced.

Air. Linklater, M.P., asked how Palmerston North compared with other towns.

Mr. Bary said that wherovor he had been tho position was the same. Air. F. W. Aloore (West End) pointed out that the Palmerston North figures quoted by Mr. Bary would liavo been worse but for the dosing of tho deviation which had been responsible for a number of families leaving the town.

Mr. Bary added that the classes wero lower than they were this time last year. The reorganisation of the education system should start right from the infant departments. Hon. J. G. Cobbe, M.P., remarked that it only seemed a matter of common sense that in unreasonably large classes, tho pupils couldn’t receive proper instruction. Any expenditure to reduce the size of classes would be justified. Mr. J. A. Nash said he had spokon in Parliament over and over again on this matter and agreed that better results would be obtained for smaller classes.