EDUCATION ECONOMIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 10

EDUCATION ECONOMIES.

COMMERCIAL COURSES.

NO STATE ALLOWANCE.

SEVERAL SCHOOLS AFFECTED.

About 20 district high schools in the Auckland education area will be affected by the decision of the Education Department to discontinue commercial classes at schools where tho teaching of the subjects was done by additional part-time teachers. Tho Auckland Education Board was advised of the department's decision at its meeting on February 3 and ft forwarded a protest to the department. However, the Minister of Education, the Hon. It. Masters, has intimated that the decision will stand. In five district high schools and junior high schools instruction is carried out by full-time teachers with the requisite knowledge and these schools will not be penalised. Tho other schools, which are in country centres, will lose their part-time teachers. In these schools there are estimated to be about 100 typewriters, which will be idle unless a teacher on the staff can continue the instruction. The department's decision was notified at an exceedingly inopportune time. Commercial students had already been enrolled for the year and had purchased the necessary books. In the case of one district high school 21 of 32 new students enrolled intended to take the commercial course. The result is that many schools will lose students and will fall in grade. Private schools in country towns have taken advantage of the position to open classes for commercial subjects. Efforts are now being made to arrange for a class of Training College students to be instructed in commercial subjects at the Seddon Memorial Technical College. The department is to be asked to sanction such a class, which will provide qualified teachers for the district high schools. DEPARTMENT'S FUTURE POLICY. EARLY STATEMENT EXPECTED. [BY TELEGRAM. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

The discontinuance of commercial classes in a number of district high schools forms part of the economy policy being practised by the Education Department and it is likely that a full explanation of future proposals regarding commercial instruction in schools will be made by the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, during the Address-in-Reply debate in the Legislative Council.