FREE EDUCATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 616, 31 January 1916, Page 11

FREE EDUCATION.

THE NEED FOR EXTENSION. Press Association. AUCKLAND, January .31. The extension, of free education to all who may desire lo take up agriculture, domestic, or industrial courses, was strongly advocated by Mr Newton in his presidential address at the opening of the New Zealand Technical Teachers' Association. He pointed out that the present Act limits voluntary education to holders of proficiency certificates, yet the Act allowed school committees lo impose compulsory education, within certain limits, on all young persons, irrespective of proficiency certificate. Between these two extremes would it not he reasonable to allow free voluntary education to all such young persons'? The present position meant thai in one district young persons are prevented from having what is forced upon others in another district. Agricultural, domestic, and industrial careers were taken up by those of no literary bent, yet the main test for I'vci.' education for such careers was a literary one. The injustice was a great one, and it was their obvious duly to do all in their power to have it removed. Even with the present system of awarding fvoc places injustice was done lo many deserving students, owing lo the varying standards of attainment requircd in the different education districts.