TOO LAEGE CLASSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 13747, 28 June 1924, Page 10

TOO LAEGE CLASSES.

PROBLEM IN THE SCHOOLS.

REMEDIES BEING APPLIED.

STATEMENT ; BY'MINISTER.

fBT tk£eobapit.---sp2ciai. mpoexeb.] WELLINGTON. Friaay.

An investigation into the evil of large classes in primary schools has recently been completed by the chief inspector in the North Island, where the chief troubl. lav, and where measures are now being taken to reduce it. A similar inquiry is now being conducted in the South Island.- ..••"■ ' . -.' . Discussing the subject this morning, the Minister for Education, Hon. C. J. Parr, said four rears ago the position was far from satisfactory, especially in the Auckland district. The : department had therefore authorised the substitution of - assistant for pupil teachers to facilitate the reorganisation of classes, and to this end 150 additional assistants had been available in the last two years, -p £•> More recently Mr. Parr directed that a detailed investigation be made of the staffing of, all schools of over 240 children in the North Island. The result showed that while there were still a considerable number of classes over 60, there was an even greater number containing 40 pupils or less. There were many clashes of under 30. "" \ . Accordingly a personal investigation of he circumstances in each school was proiceding to ascertain the cause of the ap3arer,t disparity, and if possible the remedy. It appeared that reorganisation would ; meet the. position in many cases. [n many schools very small classes coexisted with very large ones. As a matter of fact the chief inspector reported ihat 74 classes formerly of 60 had been -educed below that figure ;by , reorganisation. This had been done without additional assistants or additional rooms. Of he remaining cases of large classes, nearly half were being dealt with in this way, but. it was estimated that 49 more .as-: sistants were required to bring all the classes in the" North Island under 60. t; ' The output of teachers from the training colleges would soon make this possible. There were. cases in which the. schools would have to be slightly remodelled, 14 in which new rooms would be required, and nine cases where the requisite additional accommodation could be temporarily arranged. The department was now conferring with the Education Boards with regard to proposals and estimates for remodelling.-

" I regard/' said Mr. Parr in conclusion, " the correction as far as possible of the evil of too large clashes as , the department's most imperative duty. A determined effort is being made to, minimise it, and especially in Auckland, where the remarkable growth of school population has aggravated the problem." •