EDUCATION SYSTEM

Southland Times, Issue 25303, 5 June 1935, Page 9

EDUCATION SYSTEM

“ORDER OUT OF CHAOS” TALK TO ROTARIANS In introducing to members of the Invercargill Rotary Club the pamphlet of the New Zealand Educational Institute, “Order Out of Chaos," Mr G. F. Griffiths, the newly-elected president of the institute, took the opportunity at yesterday’s luncheon of the club _to speak of the need for placing education under a non-political board with directive powers. Dealing briefly at the outset with the work of the institute, Mr Griffiths said that the institute need make no apology for criticism of the system,. because since its foundation in 1884 its policy had been to educate, to agitate and ultimately through an educated Parliament to legislate in the interest of education as a whole. At no time had it devoted its time and machinery to the salaries and material advancement of its members to the exclusion of even greater problems that faced the country. But when the late Assistant Director suggested that the institute would be doing a service to fhe country, and to him personally, if it could do anything to assist in bringing about a more simple system whereby it would be possible for him to calculate the salary of a teacher, the challenge was accepted and as a result of a survey of the whole system of control, the institute had published a pamphlet entitled “Order Out of Chaos,” which set out the institute's case.

“This pamphlet,” he continued, “is divided into two distinct parts. First, by quoting regulations, it proves that chaos does exist, and second, it suggests a remedy in the form of control by a National Board. In the main the pamphlet is directed at the almost unbelievable chaotic state the administration has reached merely by the process of passing regulation after regulation by successive administrators until at present even departmental officials are anxious for relief. The institue believes that the only reasonable method of attack with a view to improvement is to place education under a non-political board with directive powers. It is not wedded to any particular constitution of membership, but is content to let that be discussed when the country is convinced that such a board is the proper form of control.” To show how greatly Parliament, representing the voice of the people, had surrendered its powers, Mr Griffiths quoted the following regulations now embodied in the statutes:—

1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal Act or in any other Act, the GovernorGeneral by Order-in-Council may make such regulations as he thinks necessary or expedient. 2. No regulation under this section shall be invalid because it deals with any matter provided for in the principal Act or is contrary to the provisions of such Act. 3. Should any dispute or difficulty arise respecting the meaning or effect of the regulations, such dispute or difficulty shall be submitted to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final. He then proceeded to deal with the chapters in the pamphlet which disclosed the chaos of controlling authorities and the chaotic state of the staffing, grading, appointment and salaries of teachers. He illustrated many glaring anomalies which he said existed. In drawing comparisons with conditions obtaining in other branches of the service, he said that the institute was not in any way attacking such better conditions. The pamphlet was to convince the public of the need for an overhaul. The setting up of a national board of education was not altogether a new proposal. There had been a Council of Education in existence for three or four years, but it had really not functioned. The national board was to possess directive power. There was at present too much power in the hands pf one man.