EDUCATIONAL POLL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 7

EDUCATIONAL POLL.

THE PROMISED REFORMS. MINISTER’S DELAY CRITICISED. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, May 21. Although the Minister of Education (Mr H. Atmore) has denied the charges of delay in announcing his education policy, his remarks in this respect have evidently not lulled the executive of the Wellington Federation of Educational Associations into any state of “ wait and see.” “ The federation, like other, organisations, has been patiently awaiting the report on educational reform as promised by Mr Atmore,” states the federation’s first annual report'. “ Whilst agreeing that the work is somewhat large and complicated, at the same time the federation considers that the time has arrived, and is in fact long overdue, when the Minister should indicate his policy in regard to junior high schools, agricultural bias, and unification of control, etc. Eighteen months have passed since the Minister first stated that he was going to reform the educational system of the Dominion, and during this long period of office the Minister has been travelling throughout the Dominion visiting the various schools. Under normal conditions this action may be considered necessary, but in view of the present unsatisfactory condition of. the educational system, due to the state of uncertainty created by Mr Atmore by his repeated statements that reforms would be made, the federation respectfully suggests that the Minister, for the time being at least, discontinue his pilgrimage through the Dominion and endeavour to place before the people his policy of reform. The country is waiting for this policy to eventuate, and ■whilst it may ,be very pleasing for scholars to receive a day’s holiday on account of the visit from the Minister, it must be borne in mind that the time necessary to visit all the schools in the Dominion is ouch that if the" promised reforms have to wait until the Miniser has visited each school, then it will be found that some of the promised reforms will not be beneficial to some of the present scholars. The federation considers that it has not been necessary for the Minister to visit each school so as to understand the requirements of the schools. Any education board or school committee could have acquainted him of the many problems confronting it, and a visit to a few schools in each province was all that was necessary. What the country wants is not so much a personal visit by a Minister as a definite indication that the Minister is endeavouring to grapple with and overcome the many difficulties confronting his department. The country wants the educational policy of Mr Atmore as Minister of Education, a policy for which it was waited 18 months.”