ECONOMY CAMPAIGN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11162, 18 March 1922, Page 7

ECONOMY CAMPAIGN

CONTINUATION CLASSES MINISTER ON COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE CLAUSE. “NOT A SUCCESS.” There has Leon some criticism recently of the Government's economy proposals .in regard to tho abolition of the compulsory continuation classes for boys and girls between fourteen and seventeen years of age._ Under . tho existing law a school _ district may, of itself, adopt compulsion with respect to these classes, but it would appear, stated the Minister for Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) to a “Times” repreeentative yesterday, that the Act has been largely a dead letter, as only four or five districts have adopted the system.

COMPULSION NOT A SUCCESS. The compulsion was abolished lately in connection with the Government's economy programme. The Mimster has received the following report on the subject from the Director of Technical Instruction (Mr W. S. La Trohe, M.A.): —“The compulsory attendance of boys and girls between fourteen and seventeen years of age has not been a success iu those cases in which the students are unwilling to attend. In many cases, also, the course taken has no very direct bearing on the occupation of the pupil, it .being found' necessary often to admit a compulsory pupil to classes which are attractive — such as woodwork and 1 metalwork for boys—rfather than to classes which deal with subjects involving more mental strain. It is not, however, the intention of the department to prevent pupils between fourteen and seventeen years of age from avail-aing themselves, if they so desire, of the privileges which they would enjoy under the regulations for compulsory attendance, it is only in respect of those who do not wish to attend' that no provision will be made. All‘those who wish to attend will be permitted, provided there is a reasonable demand for instruction in any particular Subject, and provided, also, that such pupils, not otherwise entitled to free places, are prepared to come voluntarily under the provisions for compulsory attendance. QUESTION OF TECHNICAL CLASSES. “As regards technical classes generally, it is not the intention of the department to refuse to recognise those which minister to a real educational need in the community. Even, in the case of adult classes for such subjects as cookeTy, dressmaking and woodwork, recognition will not be withheld if it is shown that the class is mainly attended by learners, and that the clossroom is not used merely as a convenient workroom for producing articles with the aid of an expert paid by the Government. The latest regulations. “Under, the latest regulations, by which the salaries of teachers are paid by the Government directly, instead of being provided indirectly by capitation oh the attendance of pilpils, it is necessary that the department shonld impose some lower limit on the number of pupils for which a class should be recognised. It is admitted that this lower limit should not be too arbitrary and that, where a subject is .essential for dni'iraportant industry or -occupation, a class may be profitably established even if the numbers are below those which, under the capitation system, Would be required to enable the expenses of teaching and maintenance to be met. It must be pointed out that, whereas formerly the financial responsibility for a olass rested directly on the managers, it now rests almost entirely on the> department, which hopes, however, to have the cordial co-operation of the managers In its efforts to secure both efficiency and economy in the administration of -technical and continuation classes.”