NATIONAL EDUCATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 16 May 1918, Page 4

NATIONAL EDUCATION

ADDiRESS BY MBE. U. JUST

Mr. E. U. Just, Organising Secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute, gave an address on "National Education" in the Council Chambers last evening. There was not a large attendance. The vMayor (Mr. W. W. Siiodgrass) occupied the chair. The 'Mayor, in introducing Mr Just, said the latter had been a teacher for 52 years,' 28 of| which he wa« headmaster of a High ScTiool. Mr Just was addressing tho citizens to nrouso further interest in education. People did not take sufficient interest in education,

and it was very important that parents should realise'that phase of life. He (the May or j was disappointed at the very small attendance of householders

at the annual election of iS'chool Comj mittees, and he hoped'that the result of ; Mr. Just's visit would be an increaseu. I interest in . education. Mr Just said he would have to critfi cise the weaknesses of our education (system, but not those who have been

administering it. Our education system had been a good one, and) had been \ cry beneficial to the people of the Dominion. If we compared crime statistics with other countries we came out very favourably. When, war broke out our boys responded nobly, and critics —both

military and civilian—bore testimony to their valour, bravery, and good conduct. It has been ' said that the,present camapign has been instituted on behalf of the teachers. That was riot quite the truth. He mentioned that many other branches of trades, professioaia, etc., had formed associations in the interests of reform. The Educational

Institute had another plank—to advance the common interests. The Institute

Lad been in existence 20 years, and had secured many reforms, lb had never appealed to the public for funds—these were supplied by the teachers themselves. It had been suid that the piesent campaign was inopportune, but everything was now in the melting [n.i and after the war would' have to be recast. Education would also have to be re-cast. o \Ve must impress upon the people the necessity for improvement in our system, of education. England has already made a start. Why should New Zealand lag behind- The Education Act of 1877, of which Sir Charles Bowen was the author, .was intended to

"be a national system j hut it had . befen. only so in regard to. - finance and sylla : ; bus. A democracy ;to .bo stable must be educated. A wider eduCatipn:• is,', necssary for the masses,,in ordei 1 !, that,, they may use their intelligence. I 'to their proper places in local arid politic. cal occupations. . An education system., that does not provide for a'child in its special aptitude does not do its duty.There was great unrest in ■ the ■• old world and m our own country. In his opinion it was the monotony of tne work that was chiefly the cause. ;

man became merely a machine in nv occupations, and ho loses the, capacity for the rational enjoyment of his leisure hours. We want to give him a wider outlook in life, so that he will not feel inferior in attainments to. his . fellows. He was opposed to private organisations controlling education,' as they have ' always failed to reach the masses. The; have done more for .the classes than the masses. There was a strong demand for continuation classes for workers. Three influences were at' work for the edtiv.,: cation of the children—the home, 'the State, and the Church. Neither onv can do/the work alone. -.The Church cannot do the educational .work/and *lia State cannot do the spiritual work., I rivate organisations divided the community into sections. Administration was the next matter " mentioned by Mr' Just. .He.t..»id ?tlwt since' tho days when provincial boards; and committees were established 1 , the conditions have changed. • Boards ■ have had their functions considerably , reduced, of which he gave Nearly everything is now in the hands tof the .Department. The school committees remain, but the Bonvus, h .< ■ ' been shorn of their functiwis,.the^' cpm- ; mittees have still fewer responsibilities.: The Boards nave practically opposed every reform that has taken place in ! the Dominion. The Minister of Education himself had not the power enforce any He had no control. ; arid on one occasion was actually refused admission to a State ' because he had no right there! I Mr Ousti stated that another reform 'was to extend the tutelage \to 16. ; Betwen 14 and 16 years' was the most - critical in a child's life, and they.,,must\ not lose the golden, opportunity iqr character-building. v It was in .the con-, tinuation of education. v in ; that period; that adaptability was discovered. , An* other reform advocated was improved; education in rural districts. He favoured the centralising of schools, as it. would . lessen the number of the lower grodl?. and assist in establishing centres of education. It was not fair to jnoneers. that their children should not. have,.tfce-, . jsame facilities for education ■ as, those : in the town. The service should also'be made more attractive. Better > o^l, ' more trained' Mechera, with better' remuneration, and better conditions. Smaller: classes were *lso •urged, but this would come about^t■ thev had more teachers. A great;, improvement could be effected in the.heatin"- and sanitary arrangements. > -Every ca?e should be taken ,of the physical -v el fore of the child as wqll as, the menta 1 Medical inspection 'and, dental tveainienl should go , farther. ,;' Defects: ' should be remedied <n ■"the , eyes and teetk. If parentsVould, not attend to , them the State should.' There, should also bo larger playgrounds.. Corhpulsorv daylight continuation classes •wert* alsc desirable. It -was not expected' that all'these reforms could'be carried' out at once, but a beginning' should, bo iwde. The children were the'nation's ' greatest asset, and the maximum of efficiency must be obtained. .Every child hid th e riqht to he educated as far. aspossible by the. State,; In conclusion, M- for* their ' hearty cooperation and support in order to 'carry* .-oi\S. the campaign. (Applause). t Mr E. E. Boyes. Chairman, of the , Town Schools Committee, proposed thnt a hearty vot e °f thanks- be given Mv Just for his instructive and valuable address.

Mr W. F. Worley "seocndod the motion, which w«s carried with acclamation. v .A vote of thanks to tho chairman -terminated the meeting...