TOO MUCH EDUCATION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 257, 8 October 1931, Page 6

TOO MUCH EDUCATION

IS COST TOO HIGH? "COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD IT" A discussion on the high cost of education in New Zealand arose at the last meeting of the Wangauui Chamber of Commerce. Mr. A. S. Burgess, chairman; said that too much was being spent on education in New Zealand, and a good deal of it, he thought, was unnecessary. For instance, what did the average girl or boy get from learning Euclid or algebra? A Voice: Sir Thomas Lipton didn't pass the sixth standard. Mr. Burgess, continuing, expressed the opinion that the State should not be expected to educate children beyond the sixth standard. Mr. J. Patterson: What will they do after that? Go on the unemployed? Mr. Burgess: I maintain the Govenment has done its duty when girts and boys have passed through the primary schools. Mr. Dunsford concurred. The State couldn't be expected to father and mother them all their lives. Mr. Burgess said that as far as he was concerned, the training he had received in the public school had been of far greater benefit than that received at college, useful though the latter had been.. He dkl not consider that a secondary education was necessary unless a .-profession' were taken up. Mr. I. E. Newton said that education was not merely for teaching boys and girls certain subjects. It helped to form their characters. As far as primary education was concerned, it must be remembered that in the early days more subjects were taught in the public schools, and the present system of primary education was insufficient to equip young people for after life. No country could afford to deny the young people an education up to the age of 17, at least. If children were dropped at 14 and 15, the country would soon go down. Mr. Burgess maintained that " a primary education up to the age of 14 or 15 would be adequate. In his opinion children left the primary schools too soon. Mr. Zeisler expressed the opinion that the primary school had been allowed to "slip." The, discussion lapsed. j