EDUCATION POINTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 November 1936, Page 6

EDUCATION POINTS

WORK OF COMMITTEES MINISTER’S SURVEY A number of questions which are of vital concern to educationalists was discussed with the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) on Monday evening by a deputation representing the Dominion Federation of School Committees. Remits passed at the Dominion conference of the federation in Dunedin in August last Were placed before the Minister. Mr W. G. Black, president of the federation, thanked the Minister for what he had done to assist school committees since he assumed office, mentioning the increased capitation fees, the provision of milk for school children; and the abolition of the proficiency examination. Referring to the introduction of films into the schools, Mr Black said the federation had suggested the appointment of a special committee to consider the matter. ■ It was felt that British films should be used, and that there should be a suitable library of films. A travelling projector would meet the needs of the country schools. Mr N. fi. Ingram, secretary of the Parliamentary committee of the federation, drew attention to the problem of the limitation of the size of classes, and went on to refer to the consolidation of schools. The federation hoped that local prejudices would not be allowed to affect decisions of the Department as to what was the best locality for a school. The federation also felt, that the synchronisation of primary and secondary school holidays should be encouraged, and also that there should be an extra grant to school committees in the colder districts. THE STAFF BUGBEAR The opinion that free milk and cocoa should be supplied to children attending country schools was expressed by Mr F. H. Porter, chairman of the Parliamentary committee. He had always thought that country children received all the milk they required, but it had been stated that was not so. The constant changes of staff was the bugbear of the present system, and it was suggested that permanent appointments of teachers be made from the beginning of the year, and that a relieving staff be built up to fill extraordinary vacancies. The conference was also of opinion that the modernising of school furniture should be taken in hand. The inclusion of swimming instruction in the educational curriculum was also advocated. The conference felt that free, full, and continuous dental treatment should be provided to the end of the primary school course. He knew that was the Minister’s objective when circumstances permitted. COMMITTEES TO BE CONSULTED In his reply, the Minister said that the deputation could rest assured that whatever reorganisation was made in the educational system local initiative would be encouraged. School committees as a whole would be given equal opportunity with education boards, the various post-primary boards, and the teachers’ organisations to place their views before any Parliamentary or other committee that might- be dealing with the reorganisation of education. Authority had been taken for the raising of the school age by Order in Council, and he certainly intended to do that, at the latest for 1938. He would ask that it be done earlier, but there was the question of teachers, and accommodation in the post-primary schools. About 12,000 children would be affected by the raising of the school age. At the present time the question was being, investigated, and it would be necessary to make provision for those children. There were now 1187 stu-

dents in the four training colleges, and next year there would be 1355 students in training. The pize of classes could not be reduced, nor could the five-year-olds be put into the schools without the appointment of more teachers.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

The Government had placed £500,000 on the Estimates this year for schoOl- buildings. This was an increase of £320,000 over the amount allocated for that purpose last year. Although that money had been provided for, so far as he could see there would be no chance of suending it this year, for the reason that the construction of school buildings required a good deal of preliminary preparation in the way of drawing plans, and so forth. That means more money had been, allocated than would be expended. The Education Department was pushing on with the remodelling and improving of schools. Mr Fraser went on to say that a committee representative of the Education Department and the New Zealand Educational Institute had been set up to investigate the important question of text books. So far as he could see, and others associated with him could see, the extension of the present contract for text books for one year was unavoidable. In regard to the future, he could not say anything more at the present stage, but the representations of the federation concerning the writing, printing, and copyright of the books would be considered by the Department and himself. He was anxious to do everything he could in the way of visual education, and it was hoped next year to make a substantial beginning in that direction.

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS

The type of school being adopted, provided the local people were agreeable, was the open-air type. Newtown was to have a two-storey building on the open-air principle. Grading and staffing was one of the major problems at the present time, and it had been referred to a special committee representative of educational interests with a view to seeing if some of the obvious drawbacks could not be overcome. Mr Fraser said he would like to see baths at every school so that the children could learn to swim, but it was a case of first things first. The number of dental trainees had been increased from 30 to 51, and it was the Government’s endeavour to double that number. The Government was in the process of obtaining temporary quarters for yhe extension of the dental clinic. As soon as plans were completed and tenders called a start would be made with the new clinic on the site of the old Te Aro School playground in Willis street. It was desired to provide a service to meet the requirements of the children up to 12 years before extending the service.