COST OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 12

COST OF EDUCATION.

RELATION TO ECONOMICS. NEED TO MAINTAIN STANDARD. REDUCED GRANT OPPOSED. Opposition to (ho suggested reduction of the education grant in New Zealand was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland Educational Conference last evening. The principal speakers were Mr. H. R. Rodwell, lecturer on economics at the University College, and Mr. F. A. Garry, headmaster of Mount Roskill School. The close relation between the economic life and the education system of a country was emphasised by Mr. llodtvell, who said the keenest examination of the effects of any reduction in the grant should be made before decisive action was taken. It had to be remembered (hat there was no way of measuring the return on teaching expenditure, as in the case of judging the return on capital investment. The only way to arrive at an estimate was to compare the social values produced by education systems.

" It is essential that we maintain the standard of our education at all costs," said Mr. Rodwell. "The provision of free, compulsory education is costly, but inevitable in a democracy. The standard must be high and the system progressive under tho demands of changing, society." The speaker said he felt that much of the criticism of tho amount of tho grant was because of failure to grasp tho fact that tho reactions upon society through limitations might prove serious. Keeping Pace With Society. Mr. Garry contended that assertions that tho education systems of earlier generations could be assumed in modern New Zealand were wrong. Education was (o prepare a person for the society in which ho found himself. Society was in a state of constant evolution and obviously education had to keep pace. A community could not afford to take a retrograde step.

As regards llio association between economic conditions and education, it had to be understood that tlie modern machine age and its complexities demanded a vastly different system of education from tho methods of tlie past. Any weakening of tho system must become apparent in the community. Mr. Garry said he considered tlintsociety at present made two striking demands—commercialism and idealism. Provision for both these conditions of social outlook must bo rnado in the education system. Tho better relation between tho teacher and tho taught in modern education was in keeping with the idealism of tho day.

In tho speaker's opinion, it should be more generally known that tho amount of the education grant which had suffered so much criticism included a substantial sum for the Child Welfare Department. New standard? of lifo had been developed, particularly in regard to women, and, if tho education grant were larger, it, was because more people desired education. Economics and Farming. Dealing with the frequently-voiced statements that the education system w,s not serving adequately to turn the attention of boys and girls to agriculture, Mr. Garry said the position was governed by economic circumstances. It was logical to believe that there would bo a movemen toward the land if it could be shown that a good living could be obtained as a farmer. In view of tho added demands of modern life, tho speaker said, the period of preparation of a pupil should not end until tho age. of Ift years at least, instead of 14 years, and full opportunity for higher education should be given to those whose capacity demanded it. A highly-qualified teaching service was essential. It would be r. vital danger to th« stability of tho State to throw boys and girls not sufficiently trained upon the already overcrowded labour market.

" Because the benefits of education are intangible they arc not always regarded as economic," said Professor H. Belshuw, professor of economics at the University College. " The plea for a reduced grant is based on the fall in the national income. If it could be demonstrated that waste can be eliminated and the efficiency of the system remain unimpaired by cutting down the absurdly high administrative costs, that should bo done. That, however, is vastly different from curtailing the actual service. An investigation of the consequences of reductions should precede the announcement of any particular sum as the reduction." Difficulty ol Comparison. In the opinion of Mr. 1). M. Rae, principal of the Auckland Training College, it would be a calamity to jeopardise the improvements which had been built up for the New Zealand school child. The chairman", Professor A. 15. lift, professor of education at the University College, said comparisons of educational expenditure were extremely difficult and many of Iho criticisms of costs in the Dominion were misleading. Without inquiring I horoughly into the circumstances of the rosts. it was meaningless to say that New Zealand spent, an amount on education when the burden on another country was different. " That so many of our public men in New Zealand can make, statements that we are over-educated shows that we have not spent enough on education," I he chairman said. Grave consequences could follow from ill-considered reductions in the education grant. The question was of greater seriousness to the economic life of the Dominion than was ordinarily appreciated,

CASE or ART STUDENTS. LOCAL SOCIETY'S PROTEST. The proposed reductions in the education grant were remarked upon with concern by Mr. R. 0. Gross pvt. the annual meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts last evening. He said it would he nothing less than a calamity if the Government did anything which would prejudice the work of art schols. If drastic cuts came about it would menu that, many students, both hoys and girls, would he greatly handicapped. The president. Dr. E. B. Gnnson, said (he matter certainly was one of grave importance. He expressed the hope thnt any reduction in expenditure would inflict as litllo hardship as possible on promising art students. He thought that apart from the question of economy the existing system of art education was faulty, and it was doubtful if many pupils at certain schools of art received any real benefit. <'n the motion of the president the incoming council of the society was recommended to give consideration to the question of art education in Auckland.