NATION-BUILDING.

Northern Advocate, 18 August 1919, Page 2

NATION-BUILDING.

WHERE EDUCATION GOMES IN.

AN INTANGIBLE ANSWER,

WELLINGTON, This Day,

Mr Parkinson ; secretary of the Educational Institute, interviewed the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education. He urged the needs of educational reform whereby improvements should be brought about so as to extend'the State system and enable it to fully perform its function of nation-building. The most urgent; matters were the control and salaries of teachers. The present district system narrowed the ambitions of a teacher's career, prevented 'interchange, and by lessening chances of promotion, damped enthusiasm. The State lost a considerable portion of the possible return. for expenditure, since teachers could not be employed in classes, the work'for which they were best fitted.

Provincialism discouraged the best class of recruits, thus reacting on the standard of teaching, and the system was wasteful. The service was also unattractive by reason of the poor salaries. Only about one in twelve of adults, fully qualified teachers, many with long periods of service, received as much as £300 yearly.

The Minister, replying, agreed that strong grounds existed in favour of nationalising control and to remove some of the existing difficulties. He had introduced ■ a grading system whereby merit would be recognised when appointments were being made. He was anxious to see salaries made commensurate with the efficiency and responsibility of teachers, so that the best material would be attracted. He hoped shortly to be able to place alLthe aspects of this question before Cabinet.—Press Assn.