STATE AID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 8

STATE AID

PRIVATE SCHOOLS PRINCIPLE REJECTED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE’S VIEWS The attitude of the New Zealand Educational Institute towards State financial aid to private schools was defined yesterday when a remit, proposed by the Marlborough branch, “ That the institute disapproves of such aid,” was carried by the annual conference after a long discussion. Many of the opinions of delegates were expressed in committee, and the decision was by no means unanimous. Mr C. A. Arneson, who proposed the remit, said that the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, had stated that there was no reason why private schools should not receive a grant from the State. The speaker added that the products of the secular control of schools in New Zealand had shown up well in comparison with those of other parts of the world. Mr Arneson claimed that if a capitation grant were given to private schools they then would have the right to additional grants by the State. He added that suggestions had already been made that there should be a subsidy on wages for private schools, or alternatively, a subsidy on their expenditure, Mr Arneson added that he thought there would be some competition in the setting up of private schools by denominational organisations, and he claimed that teachers would be awarded jobs in such schools not because of efficiency but because of religion. “Although so far no public approach has been made for funds by private schools, we should let the public know unanimously that we are not in favour of such grants,” he said. Mr M. Riske, Wellington, suggested that the grants should be made only if they were additional to the education vote, and were analysed and gazetted under a different heading. “There are over 40,000 children in registered private schools. Their parents pay taxes. As children of New Zealand they should have the same opportunity as any other child in this country,” Mr Riske continued. He claimed that there was a place for different types of schools, including denominational institutions, and they would assist in keeping the State schools secular. Also, he claimed that the granting of aid to private schools would enable the State to supervise their standards. Mr A. P. L. Kennedy (Wellington) said that the majority of the schools were secular, and a duty existed to those children whose education went hand in hand with religion. Mr G. M. Robertson (Bay of Islands) said that private boarding schools were of considerable value in providing country children with a satisfactory education. The meeting then went into committee to discuss the matter further.