EDUCATION BOARDS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 2, 10 September 1927, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARDS

RUMOURED ADO LETION.

AUCKLAND suppoiitkd. Tlie rumoured intention of flic Government to do away with Education Board* was the subject of a filiorfc discussion at ilie meeting of the Stratford Teclmieal High School Board of Governors hist night, when it was decided to support the following resolution which was forwarded hy the Auckland Grammar School Board:— ‘‘ I hat in view ol the setting up of a Select Committee to inquire into educational matters, and the uncon tradictcd rumours that the Education Department, proposed to abolish Education Boards, Secondary School .Boards, and Technical School* Boards, this Board Communicate witli the Hon. Minister of Education, asking that the Boards he informed of the proposed legislation, and be afforded an opportunity of expressing their views. before any legislative proposal is placed before the House.” A member remarked that he did not think the matter would come to anything, but the Bov, Canon Kayll said that though possibly nothing would he done this year, something might he attempted later. Tf the Boards were abolished it would mean the inauguration of an expensive and unsatisfactory system.

Mr. J. Cocker was afraid School Committees might be abolished also. Canon Kayll replied that that would not be done. Jt had been said that School Committees would receive wider powers, but that would nob be the case in actual practice. The speaker was not in favour of the mechanical appointment of teachers by consideration of grading only, pointing out that there were many other aspects to be considered including the temperament of the proposed appointee- Before a teacher were appointed to a school the views of the Principal of the school should receivo consideration.

Mr. Cocker said that the present dav tendency wa,s for the country in Educational and other matters to be run by the Departments, and not by the Government or by Parliament. Rev. Canon Kayll -■ Of course it must be recognised that there are certain things winch are purely the concern of the Departments, and the loss political interference there is in .such cases the better. However, no one can suggest that the Education Department is not having its full say just now.