Wartime Activities Of Education Department

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1943, Page 2

Wartime Activities Of Education Department

Hope that the Minister of Education’s proposals for “accrediting” would be put into effect was expressed by the chairman of the Whangarei High School Board (Mr. G. A. Bethell), speaking at the opening of the girls’ school and hostel on Saturday. Touching on accrediting in his address, Mr. Mason said that when people were given freedom they did not always do the best. A special committee had been set up comprising persons of very diverse talents to go into the question of the syllabus. He had not yet received a report from this committee, but he hoped it would be a diversified one. High schools did not possess the best syllabus and from the report he had the highest hopes. Notwithstanding the war, the Government was pushing on as fax as possible with educational buildings, but the war had considerably restricted its efforts, Mr. Mason said in a review of the work of his department, which, he said, was otherwise overcoming difficulties satisfactorily. In regard to teachers who were in the fighting services, steps had been taken to protect their rights of promotion, and in all other matters to safeguard their interests. • Physical Education The physical education of the pupils was now a delight as compared to the stuffiness in evidence in the past. There was a freedom and joy in the work as compared with conditions of say 12 years ago. Sixteen area officers and 30 trained assistants are supervising this work. The school library scheme was a great success, said the Minister, and there were 502 central services with a total of 28,000 scholars attached thereto, and a large waiting list. The chief difficulty was in obtaining books from overseas. 'A director of teaching aids has been appointed,’ also a supervisor of arts and crafts to helD with handicraft work. Todav we must rely on our own resources, asid the Minister. In Dunedin the department had looms and spinning wheels, the products being sent through the country at less than cost price for the benefit of schools.

The army education system was being conducted through the Education Department.

The Government and department were doing all possible to help those children in schools who were handicapped either from physical or mental disability, or from whatever cause. Our educational system would be far from complete if this assistance were not given. In regard to the deaf there was one institution in each island.