VALUE OF LEARNING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 9

VALUE OF LEARNING

INFLUENCES SENT ABROAD BRITISH EDUCATION PROGRESS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Dec. 16. The Secretary of State for War (Mr L. Hore-Belisha) speaking at the opening of an exhibition in a Roman Catholic, Convent School near Plymouth, said: "Whatever aparent defeats human philosophies may undergo, they will triumph in the end by the irresistible power of the spirit.' All over England there are little retreats of religion and learning, and from them influences go out which strengthen, vitalise, and humanise the nation. They are the pride of all denominations, and this State has not only the wisdom to tolerate, but to encourage them. We are fortunate to live in a country which, although compelled to devote a high proportion of its resources—nearly £1,000,000 each day—to armaments, is spending this year nearly £100,000,000 almost £ 2.000.000 a week—out of rates and taxes on education.

" Our Estimates, indeed, this year are, with the single exception of 1921. the largest ever presented," Mr Hore-Belisha said. "More and better schools are -being provided, classes have been reduced, opportunities for secondary education have been extended, school medical services have been improved, and school meals service greatly increased; whereas in 1931 the total number of pupils in secondary schools was 411,309, the number rose in 1937 to 484,636. Some 193,000 children were admitted in 1931 without paying fees, compared with 225,000 in 1§37. There has been an increase of 120 State scholarships to universities during the past two years."