EDUCATION ECONOMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 9

EDUCATION ECONOMY.

RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.

PROTEST BY TEACHERS.

VIEWS SENT TO PRIME MINISTER

Fears that the children of Now Zealand would bo deprived of their lights to education, and that the future stability oF the State would he endangered through a large number of raw and ill-equipped youths and girls being thrown on the labour market, should suggested economies in education bo given effect to, are expressed in a resolution passed by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Federation of Teachers and forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. Between 70 and 80 teachers were present at a meeting held to consider the matter.

The resolution was as follows:—"This representative meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Federation of Teachers fully appreciates the difficulties of your Government, and recognises the absolute necessity of the State to find ways and means for meeting the financial difficulties of the times. Further, we desire to assure you of our %vholehearted co-operation in assisting during the period of stress. "We wish, however, to express emphatically our alarm at the prospect of action in educational economy at the expense of the child as the result of much irresponsible and ill-considered criticism and suggestions that have been made in the public press and elsewhere, and urge that serious consideration be given to any suggested economies except on the advice of experts. We urge that the gravest consideration be given to the following irreducible needs in education: — The continuous education of the child until the age of 15 years; adequate provision for higher education according to the needs and aptitude of the child; a highly qualified and efficient teaching service; adequate teaching conditions.

"We believe that it will be a national' calamity if a passing financial depression should be allowed to blight the future prospects of the children by depriving them of their educational rights and, further, that any change that will throw on to the labour market a large number of raw and ill-equipped youths and girls will tend to swell a section of the community which will endanger the future stability of the State." Steps are being taken for a deputation to wait upon the Prime Minister as soon as possible to place before him the views expressed in the resolution.