COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 12

COUNTRY SCHOOLS

PRACTICE OF CONSOLIDATING SUPPORT BY MINISTER Support for the practice of consolidating country schools was given by the Minister for Education (the Hon. Peter Fraser) in a discussion on Thursday with members of the Canterbury Education Board (says “The Press”). The Minister claimed that some education boards in the Dominion had not brought about consolidation in a desirable manner. Rather, they had antagonised the parents concerned. A good deal of misunderstanding had been caused, but consolidation was most desirable, he thought, because of the improved facilities that were offered to the children.

“I have not met one person who considers that the consolidation of schools in this country has been a failure,” said Mr Frazer. “I myself have always been in favour of consolidation, for it is advantageous to. the children. Sometimes it has caused inconvenience to teachers, but I believe teachers are willing to put up with a temporary inconvenience when it is in the interests of the children. There has been a good deal of misunderstanding among parents about consolidation. I do not know what is the position with the Canterbury Education Board, but I cannot say that some boards have been as diplomatic as they might have been. They have not met the parents in the friendliest spirit.” The Minister said it was essential to enlist the co-operation of parents for any proposal to consolidate schools. Their feelings should not be trampled on by officialdom. It seemed to him that consolidation was so very desirable, and it should be brought about with the goodwill and co-operation of the parents concerned. That would mean that a good deal of propaganda would have to be carried out. Propaganda would be necessary, because all over the country there was opposition among parents to the consolidating of schools. In conclusion the Minister said that even if some inconvenience should be caused by consolidation, he would still lie justified in the expected 00operation of those affected. At another stage of the meeting the chairman of the board, Mr C. S. Thompson, said he did not know of one instance where the board had forced consolidation on any school. No one appreciated more than the board the community of interest that centred on the country school. The board had always been very favourably disposed towards consolidation, and it had never failed to convince the people concerned, by reasoned argument, that better service and better facilities would result when schools had been consolidated.