COMMERCIAL COURSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21122, 3 March 1932, Page 6

COMMERCIAL COURSES.

SUSPENSION NOT LIFTED. DIFFICULTIES. OF FINANCE. The Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, advised the Auckland Education Board yesterday, in response to its representations, that part-time instructors in commercial subjects at district high schools could not be retained. While he ;was not unsympathetic toward the pupils affected he was unable to reverse his decision. It was becoming increasingly difficult to provide even the barest necessities in education. The Minister trusted that the permanent full-time staffs of the district high schools could give instruction in such portions of the commercial course as might appropriately form part of a more general suitable education. It was expected that a useful training in book-keeping, and possibly commercial and industrial history and geography, in conjunction with English and mathematics, would constitute a commercial course that "would be little improved by a smattering of shorthand and a few hours' practice yearly in typewriting." The chairman, Mr. A. Burns, said arrangements had been made at the Auckland Training College for 30 students, who were prepared to pay their own fees, to receive tuition in commercial subjects after college hours. A total of 84 students.had volunteered to attend the special class, the number being reduced to 30 by the director of the college. Thus, next year, there would be teachers qualified to teach commercial subjects. Several members expressed the opinion 4hat children wishing to take commercial courses at country high schools were being unfairly penalised.