EDUCATION BILL PASSED

Northern Advocate, 24 October 1936, Page 15 (Supplement)

EDUCATION BILL PASSED

[Per Press Association. — Copyright.']

WELLINGTON, This Day,

When the House of Representatives resumed consideration of the Education Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr R. A. Wright (Ind. —Wellington Suburbs) said that nearly all school committees were hampered for funds, despite the fact that many of them raised money locally. Commenting on the frequent changes of teachers, particularly in the country, Mr Wright said the present system left much to' be desired. The best way to control the position was to fix a salary for a particular job, but the cost would be prohibitive. Mr T. H. McCombs (Govt. —Lyttelton) thought the technical side of education should be given more encouragement. He said the abolition of the proficiency examination would make it possible for children to continue their education' with less interference than previously.

Examinations, generally, were unreliable and, in New Zealand they had become more of fetish than in other countries. Because a child of average intelligence happened to be nervous on examination day, it was, under the present system, branded for the rest of its life.

Mr J. Hargest (Opp.—Awarua) thought the children should have something more than a progress report of passing from standards one to six. Nobody would object to five-year-olds returning to schools. He said the recent Labour .legislation was having the effect of children leaving school at an earlier age than in the past. Mr Fraser:. We will look into that, “Merely Pandering.” Mr Hargest thought the opening of the four training colleges was merely pandering to parochial interests. He thought two colleges should have been .extended to meet all requirements. The Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Govt Oamaru) referred to speeches of members of the Opposition at the time the school age was raised to six, and he thought the experience of four years of that'experiment have proved that harm was done to the child. He thought it desirable, in the interests of the child and of the community, that the school leaving age should be raised to 15 years.

The abolition of the proficiency examination was on the right lines and a reform that should have been carried out years ago. He believed ii had the whole-hearted support of the teaching profession. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opp.—Central Otago) said the raising of the school age to six was necessary in the interests o£ economy. He hoped to see a big development of the kindergarten system, but said that it and the usual school education should be co-ordin-ated. He was sure that if the Minister attempted to make reforms on the basis of the Recess Education Committee’s report he would 1 have the backing of the majority of the people of the Dominion.

“Policy Must Progress.” He said that if the training colleges were concentrated in Christchurch and Auckland there was difficulty in giving students practical training in handling classes.

Mr C. R. Petrie (Govt. —Hauraki) emphasised the need for a continuing education policy. Any change made must be in the direction of progress, rather than retrogression, as had been the case in the last few years. Unfortunately New Zealand had a C 3 population and the only way to develop people was by means of education.

He stressed the need for more dental clinics in connection with schools, and Mr Fraser said that matter was being attended to as quickly as possible.

Mr Petrie , said some desirable reforms would be costly, but that should not be allowed to enter into the question. He hoped the Minister would consider supplying school books for all children.

Mr H. E. Herring (Govt. —Canterbury) said he was not altogether in favour of the abolition of the proficiency examination, and said that in recent years there had grown up an anti-examination cult. He said they must have some sort of target, as without it they would have nothing to aim at; He agreed that New Zealand had a large C 3 population and thought it would soon be C 4. Malnutrition In Schools. He referred to the number of children in the schools suffering from malnutrition. He thought that swimming should be made one of the subjects in the curriculum. He said it was time there was a radical change In the type of school desks which were a predisposing cause of curvature of the spine, and added that lockers should also be supplier, to do away with children having to carry large satchels of books about. He also urged greater consideration should be given the needs of teachers. The debate was adjourned.