CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 671, 24 May 1929, Page 6

CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS

Education of Country Children FARMERS’ VIEWPOINT CONSOLIDATED schools, as the fulfilment of the educational requirements of country districts, were urged bt delegates .to the Auckland Farmers' Union Conference, now sitting in Auckland. Free transport to country children and low er priced school-books were asked for in remits passed by the conference.

'T'HE president, Mr. A. A. Ross, moved that the introduction of any educational system or methods that will have the effect of weakening our primary schools, or will result in any curtailment of their functions, be opposed. Mr. Ross said the remit bore directly upon the junior high schools, which, although a part of the general education, required careful investigation. He wished to be assured merely that whatever extension was effected in the education system should not b,e allowed to interfere with the primary schools. Mr. H. K. Hatriek seconded, and pointed out the dangers of cutting off the two top classes of the primary school, although he, too, agreed that care mMSt he exercised when any drastic reform was contemplated. The Minister of Education, Mr. Atmore, had promised a statement of his views, but this statement was now long overdue. Provided consolidated schools with a good average attendance and enough teachers were ensured, he personally was prepared to take anything that was given—junior high schools, or even “the Oxford TJ niversity.” PARENTAL CONTROL Mr. Babe agreed that the consolidated school was the forerunner to advanced education, particularly so far as the country pupils were concerned. In Northern Wairoa the children were taken to school in motor lorries in certain districts. If the children were sent to a town school they were removed from the parental control, which was the influence they needed most. He suggested that the confer ence should urge the principle of the consolidated school. Mr. Feisst asked that this be made a separate remit. Mr. R. D. Duxfleld said the consolidated school was based on a sound idea, while the other country schools involved waste in money in administrative expenses. The remit was carried. Mr. Babe then moved that the principle of consolidated schools be approved, Mr. Du#held seconded, and recalled that the views of the Minister of Education favoured consolidated schools, and also on agricultural lines in education generally. “I think he is the right man for the job at present,” Mr Duxfleld went on. “We now want to aim at larger classes in the country and a better classification.” “NOT A FAIR RETURN” Mr. Wright mentioned that in a number of country districts the child ren were not getting a fair return for the time they spent in the schoolroom, largely because of one teacher having to look after classes from primer I. up to the first standard. He suggested that as an entity in the consolidation of schools, the junior high school be included. Mr. E. L. Walker said his district had been battling strenuously to have a consolidated school established, as a move toward getting better education for the children. He reminded the conference also that in the smaller schools some of the children simply could not attend. “You cannot allow a child of five years to travel five miles alone to school every day,” he said, "and as a result of this my little girl lost two years of her school life. She started at seven years instead of five. Under consolidation every child can attend the school by the transport system arranged for them.” Mr. Clarke said the machinery was in order for consolidated schools; all that was required was to have the approval of the districts concerned. PARENTS’ ATTITUDE Mr. H. K. Hatriek described himself as the thorn in the side of a school committee. As far as the machinery for school consolidation was concerned he had prepared a petition circulated among parents. As the result of a split in his district the Education Board had refused to do anything. At a meeting called in the district he had had opposition from a well-known Maori, who had whooped up his natives and they outvoted the pakeha on the question of consolidation of three schools., It was all very well saying that the machinery was in order for the general consolidation of schools, but you must be prepared to convince the education authorities that the thing was possible. It had been put to the authorities more than once and the answer had been a “not on your life, with a back-kick for me,” said the speaker. FINANCE Mr. Babe said the question of finance had yet to be fixed. The Education Boards favoured the scheme, but they expected the settlers to help in the fight for finance. The resolution was carried. FREE TRANSPORT ASKED FOR Mr. H. L. Henderson, for the Waikato sub-province, moved: “That children qualified to attend secondary schools, but living in districts not served by railway, should be provided with free transport.” The mover said it was only a “fair deal” to ask that free transport be provided for country school children. After all. the cost of education came from the people, and indirectly it came off the land—seeing that the farmers were the backbone of this cauntry. All the advantages of a high-class system of education were within reach of their lads, the farmers should press to see that the children themselves got a fair deal in the way of transport. Mr. R. D. Duxfleld said this question had been put before tile Minister, but he had refused on the ground of expense.

Mr. Barter said that the union had always set its face against useless

national expenditure. As long as education kept on the right lines, however, no expenditure could be too much. ISOLATED AREAS They could not over-expend if education was carried out on the right lines. Mr. Barrowclough would not support the remit in its present form. He pointed out the cost that would be caused in some cases to convey one or two children 20 or 30 miles. This -was embodied in the remit. The greatest good should be done for the greatest number, but he was not suggesting that they should be niggardly in paying for education. Mr. R. H. Feisst said that such expenditure would be only in extreme cases. He strongly advocated privileges for the unfortunate children who lived away from railway lines. Mr. McConaughie said it was possible to spend too much on good education even. Value was wanted for money. Mr. F. Taylor said that the capitation allowance made was inadequate. Mr. E. Babe contended that all children should have equal privileges. Mr. C. E. McMillan, M.P., said that children in districts not served by railways were not given free transport. He suggested that if it were stated in the remit that free transport was asked along main highways, it would meet with considerable support in Parliament. Otherwise, he did not think that the department would make any suggestion. Mr. Giles asked how far main highways penetrated into the backblocks. Mr. McGhie remarked that many of the main highways were close to the railways. The remit was carried. SCHOOL BOOKS Mr. R. H. Feisst moved that this executive favours departmeutal purchase and distribution of all school books and school stationery necessary for compulsory education. The mover said a change had recently been made in school books, in which he personally expected to see something of a lasting nature. He was disappointed, however, as the books would hardly last out one year’s service—let alone four years as had been suggested. “Education is supposed to be free,” he went on. “It is compulsory. Seeing that it is compulsory, therefore, we are entitled to expect that the books should be supplied at something like a reasonable figure.” He suggested that the whole of the books for the Dominion should be distributed by the department from the one centre. This, he anticipated, would reduce the cost. PARENTS’ BURDEN Mr. Babe seconded and said the cost of school books had fallen heavily upon some parents. He did not expect books entirely free, but he expected that the department should make them available at a figure as low as was possible to arrange. Ong firm now possessed the contract rights for a great many of the books, and all of these goods had to be purchased through this firm. This, he considered, was quite wrong both in principle and in practice. Mr. Bruce Dennis said some schools were still held up for supplies of books which should have been available three months ago. The remit was carried.