EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 6

EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

OVKR CROWDED PROFESSIONS. rush to secondary SCHOOLS. NEW MINISTER’S FIRST ADDRESS. (Pm United Ness Association.) WELLINGTON, May 26. The Hon. R. A. Wright made his first & ni tT.! 'cSrT s; S could occupy (.£***• j ife ,.°l dt tip?., not o'.lv S ht teacher.) but of -h. pupil, and t.-Liih the Dominion possessed. In his reply, Mr Wright said, inter alii: “Although I have only heen m ofhee for one dav. I have discovered that the portfolio of Education bristles with difficulties. I am going to be like the Scot aman and proceed cannily, and feel my wav until I know definitely where I stand. I read an address delivered here yesterday n which it was stated that we did nof know where we were going. \\ hen 1 find exports talking like that it mak-s me even more cautio a. Usually we mar ried men have our families mci eased just one at a time, but when I was sworn hi iny family increased at an astonishing rate because I understand-1 am supposed to look after the destinies of the teachers and all the children of the Dominion The president was good enough to say that the portfolio of Education was regarded by the teachers generally as one of the most important in the Cabinet. I believe it is so regarded by many peopleIf I could have had my choice I should have preferred something easier to begin with. However, it is there, and I am going to do the very best I can with it. Whatever problems there are we should make some effort to solve them. I believe we will have the assistance of the teachers ns well as that of the experts in an endeavour to find some solution of the problems. “I know very little of the larger issues, but I do understand and have understood for some time that there is a jzica blem that needs solving, and I believe ft can be solved. That is the question of the number of children who are receiving higher education. I remember the time when the secondary schools were only attended by children whose parents were able to pay. The consequence was that the number of children w-ho attended secondary schools was limited. Now we have a much greater number of children passing into the secondary schools. As a result of all this higher education, I fear the professions will become congested. There will not be sufficient openings tor those qualifying. Everyone knows the average man and woman is ready to make sacrifices in order that their children may receive a good education, and then object appears to be that their children should, not have to tod as they had to toil The problem is this; Who is going to do the other work—the toil? Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying a word against education, because 1 ani a firm believer in it. There is another problem facing us. There are vacancies to-dav for artisans in New Zealand, but thev cannot be obtained. If all are going to ‘have an idea that their sons and daughters should have a first-class education, then difficulties are going to arise. I understand that in Germany educated people are to be found at manual work. Referring to future associations with the teachers, the Minister said that they would always find that, he would “lay his cards on the table.” “If I say ‘les I mean ‘Yes.’ and if I say ‘No’ I mean ‘No,’” said Mr Wright. “You will always know where I stand.” In conclusion, the Minister referred to the high place which the teachers filled in moulding the lives of the young people of the country. The Minister was thanked for his address, and a motion of congratulation to Mr Wright on his appointment was carried enthusiastically.