SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18346, 12 March 1923, Page 8

SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

IMPROVEMENTS ACHIEVED.

INCREASED EXPENDITURE.

AIMS OF THE MINISTER.

The attention which the Government had given to the question of education in the country districts and the small towns of the Dominion during,the past three yeans was mentioned by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, on Saturday, when speaking at the opening of the new school at Takanini. The Minister said that it was just three years since he received notification of his appointment as Minister for Education, and although he had a hard time he could look back on some degree of accomplishment. In enunciating his policy ho had declared for more and better schools, designed and carried out on modern hygienic lines, and more and better teachers. In the three years of his term, said Mr. Parr, 890 new schools had been erected, a better record than for any 10 previous years. Of this number 801 were schools costing £1000 and under, one-roomed schools with one teacher —clear proof that the rural ' districts were not being neglected. In fact, this class of school had been nearest his heart in apportioning the grants for schools. Fifty-nine schools costing under £2000, and of the type provided at Takanini, had been erected, and a further 30, costing £2000 and over. The total cost had been £525,000. ; An endeavour had been made to increase the number of well-trained, certificated teachers, continued the Minister. In 1920 the training colleges had turned out 355 such teachers, 383 in 1921, and 599 in 1922, the latter figure a record. He estimated that this year a further 650 trained, qualified and certificated teachers would be available for the schools of the Dominion. The position to-day was that two teachers trained the children where one did the work three years ago. Salaries had also been increased in that time, and the result was seen in better service to the children. Mr. Parr said that if the Prime Minister could provide him with the same amount of money this year the problem of overcrowding in the schools of the Dominion would be absolutely solved, and tho conditions under which education was being given would be second to none in the Dominions of the Empire. Better education was being given in New Zealand to-day than ever before, and bettertrained boys and girls were being turned out. He referred to tho work of the junior high schools, and said that an endeavour was being made in these institutions to train the children along the lines most in keeping with their abilities, rather than to put them all through tho eame mould, a fault which was to be found in all modern systems. As showing the increased attention being paid to the education of tho children of the Dominion, the Minister said that the total expenditure on education in 1914 was £1,420,000. Last year it was £3,500,000.