EDUCATION MINISTER HAS SUPPORT OF TEACHERS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 67, 23 March 1929, Page 5

EDUCATION MINISTER HAS SUPPORT OF TEACHERS

ALTERATION IN PRESENT SYSTEM ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERINIG IN DUNEDIN.

PORTFOLIO IN SAFE HANDS

(Special to Post), DUNEDIN. This Day

Yesterday the Minister of Education Hon. H. Atmore, atldlrtessed iv gathering of over 300 teachers of the Otago Branch of the Institute. It was the largest local meeting of teachers on record. The minister received *d very warm welcome, and during the course of his speech, was frequently applauded, lie insisted on 'the necessity for an alteration in the present system of education which for too long had boon dominated by academic considerations, bearing too little relation on the main business of life which the children have to face after leaving school.

The Minister particularly emphasised the necessity to "tee an agrinul- , tural bias in the national system of education, as ai closer land policy, and the consequent increased production of real wealth wag the only means of abolishing tne curse of unemployment. At the conclusion of tire address a resolution was unanimously carried thanking the Minister for Iris most inspiring and practical address. They recognised the happy combination of practical knowledge and high ideals animating the speaker, and felt that the Education portfolio was in safe hands. They rejoiced at the Minister’s breadth of outlook and in his en‘ deavour to educate the children and fit them to the altered conditions of life. He would have the wholehearted* support and co-operation of every teacher in the Dominion,