MINISTER OF EDUCATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 September 1930, Page 5

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH TRIBUTE FROM BOARD CHAIR- -. " ' MAN- . , (By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail") ■WELLINGTON,' This Day. The Minister of Education, the' Hon. Harry Atmore, visited Christchurch last week-end in order to represent the Government at the annual dinner of the Canterbury Chamber of-Commerce on Monday evening. ','-. On Tuesday the Minister, visited Belfast,' Kaiapoi, West Eyreton, and Marshland schools in the Kaiapoi electorate, and Cust school in the Hurunui electorate. Mr Atmore was accompanied by Mr R. W. Hawkes, M.P., and Mr W. A. Banks, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board. _ Deputations were received at the various schools. Mr Hawke spoke in appreciation.of the Minister's willingness to visit the schools, particularly those in the country districts, and paid a tribute to the manner in which Mr Atmore had re. sponded to tho legitimate requirements of his district on the recommendation of the Education Board. Speaking at Belfast Mr Banks, a retired teacher with many years of experience, said that no Minister of Education had pleased him more than the Hon. Mr Atmore. Thirty-two years ago ho (Mr Banks)'had taught'at the Belfast school, and thei-} were not many men in New Zealand who had had the same chance of serving the cause of education. He admired Mr Atmore_ for the practical views he was bringing into force, in connection with our education system. He could recall the days when a" child had to pass in every subject and the energies of the teacher were mostly directed in developing the progress of the dull children. Many of the latter were never good scholars,,but they turned out to be good citizens. He was very pleased to know that Mr Atmore realised each child had a different order of ability and that in future every pupil would be given an opportunity of making good along cultural or practical lines. Years ago, when Dr. Anderson was Director of Education, Mr Banks had advocated the abolition of the scholarship system, and he was pleased with the 'committee's recommendation; in that connection, and the proposal to give bursaries. Another important thing he was glad to sec was the endeavour being made to keep the children from drifting to the towns, and the position that was to bo given to agriculture and to the education of the country children generally. "' . ' , , At Kaipaoi Mr Banks again referred to the education report and stated that the recommendations were on right lines. In the future children would receive a much broader education than in the past. For many vcars we had been working along academic lines instead of being more practical. On his return to Christchurch Mr Atmore met further deputations, and left for Wellington in tho evening.