ECONOMY AND EDUCATION

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1932, Page 3

ECONOMY AND EDUCATION

SCHOOL COMMITTEEMEN’S VIEWS.

SOUTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION.

The suggestions of the Economy Commission insofar as , they c ° nc ®?' n nrimary education were discussed by — ® South Taranaki Primary Schools Association at Okaiawa on Wednesday night. Mr. J. Cocker- (Rawhitiroa) presided over a small attendance. Mr. A. Lees said the saving of £50,000 by abolishing education boards seemed all right to the general public, very few of whom knew much of the ins and outs of the matter. The report did not show how the figures affecting the boards were arrived at, while °in other parts of the report considerable detail was entered into. I-he cost of tile administration of boards was about £49,000, but on the other hand the department would have to increase its staff. Figures were to, be supplied later, he understood. They knew enough about centralisation to know that the cure might be worse than the disease. The Taranaki Education Board was opposed to the suggested advisory board, but considered that a unification of all educational authorities in the district would be to the advantage of the district. In all boards there was a good sprinkling of business men. The department, he thought, did not like havinn- these business men on boards. Personally he thought if anything boards could be "given wider powers. All the huge expenditure in the past had. not been on the recommendation of boards, but frequently owing to political pressure. The boards had often saved, the department money. For example, the Taranaki Board’s pattern of movable schools cost only a little more than half as much as the department’s type. Dr. W. M. Thomson said the centralisation proposal was the idea of the Director of Education. Th© Parliamentary Recess Committee had been definitely opposed to it and had quoted authorities supporting the provincial system. That committee had recommended a scheme of unification, which was not altogether satisfactory because it made the senior inspector controller of education in his district. The statement was made by the commission that the administrative costs were 9s 2d per child in New Zealand European schools and 3s 6d in Native schools, compared with 5s 4d in New South Wales, 4s in Victoria and 4s Id in Queensland. Dr. Thomson pointed out that in the European schools 9s 2d, represented the cost on the average attendance, while 3s 6d in the case of Native schools was worked out on the total roll number. Where the commission got the New South Wales figures from he did, not know as the latest figure for that State was Os per head, not os 4d. The £50,000 mentioned was far in excess of what could be saved. ’ The following resolution, moved by Mr. W. Ricketts (Eltham) and. seconded by Mr. E. Chapman (Auroa) was carried: “This association is definitely opposed to the abolition of education boards, being of the opinion that education boards are a necessary link between the department and the school committees.”

There was little need to comment on the motion, said Mr. Ricketts. It would be all right if all committees were lar«e, but in the abolition of the boards they would lose the link between the department and the small committees. Mr. J. S. Tosland (Pihama) saw no reason why boards should be abolished and thouglit centralisation would lead to bureaucratic and not democratic control. Mr. Lees said the department had for a number of years wanted to get rid of boards, perhaps because of the businesslike methods they adopted. Mr. Chapman said the abolition .of boards would tend to decrease the interest of parents and committees in education. If the present keenness, was not shown the department would incur further expense as capitation grants were not large enough in themselves to provide all that was required. Mr. Cocker agreed with this view. By special efforts and by voluntary labour the committees saved a good deal of money. Also centralisation would not encourage men to serve on committees. The saving, if any, by centralisation, would entail a good deal of expense on grounds, etc. Dr. Thomson pointed out that a number of recommendations only affected country children, while others suggested cutting out subjects which the inspectors claimed were the most useful. The abolition of free railway travel would not save the country a cent, though travel by motor he admitted was overdone. Mr. Tosland feared that correspondence teaching for children at present attending grade 0 schools would be very inadequate. The children in the backblocks should not be neglected because that would keep settlement near to towns. Mr. Cowie (Normanby): I consider correspondence teaching a ‘‘wash-out,’ whether for grown-ups or children. Mr. Cocker said his family had been pushed off back-country land through lack of educational facilities, so he could feel for back country parents. To abolish grade 0 schools would be a, most retrograde step. He did not think it was any advantage sending a child under six years of age to school, and there was room for economy there. Mr. Lees said the efficiency of correspondence teaching depended on the education of parents. Mr. Tosland moved that the association oppose the abolition of grade 0 schools, and this was seconded by Mr. W. A. Sheat and carried. Mr. Ricketts said he could see no reason why two of the training colleges should not be closed. Two would do the work just as well as four. At present four women to one man were beintr trained, and many left the service°soon after their three years was up. A man took it up as his life work. With a woman they got only three years’ work for five years’ pay. Mr. Tosland agreed that the number of women being trained could be well curtailed. Some women did good work, but others left as soon as they, had the opportunity, so that the training was wasted. .... Mr. Sheat said this was due to the profession not having attracted men at one stage. He did not believe in trainino* more teachers than would he employed, though personally he felt that all could be employed if the size of classes was reduced. Dr. Thomson moved that the Minister be recommended to reduce by 50 per cent, the expenditure on training colleges if possible. A considerable saving could be made, he said, in the reduction of allowances to trainees. Mr. Ricketts seconded the motion, which was carried with two dissentients. Mr. Lees said the abolition of manual instruction would hit the country children most. Mr. M. F. Voullaire (Riverlea) said the sewing capitation should really be retained whatever else was cut out.

“The farce of this so-called economy is saving on paper,” said Mr. Sheat, who pointed out that the commission’s recommendations would transfer people from doing useful work for which they were trained to doing uselgife. JXfiXk under the No, 5 scheme.

Mr. Cocker said he considered manual training was one of the most expensive branches of education. He claimed that much of the money was wasted. A resolution approving of the discontinuance of manual training in the meantime was carried. , _ Mr. Cocker considered agricultural instruction had been very -expensive. What had been taught could be taught by the teachers themselves. The children had learnt horticulture rather than agriculture. The visits of the instructor were so infrequent that much of the value was lost. Mr. Tosland thought the instructor ehould be retained bcause he watched the efficiency of the teachers’ work. Mr. Lees said that though New Zealand was an agricultural country only £ll,OOO was spent on this subject. It was one of the best things they had today. Thousands of pounds were spent at Massey College so that such a small sum in primary schools did not seem out of place. Taranaki had done more than any other board, with the, possible exception of Wanganui, in this direction. The area of forest.plots in Taranaki schools was 43 acres, and practically all of this was waste land. There were 131 school nurseries in the province. Mr. Tosland moved and Mr. Chapman seconded a recommendation that the services of agricultural instructors should be retained. Mr. Ricketts supported Mr. Cocker’s contentions, holding that the best instruction the children received was from practical farmers. The motion was carried.

A o-eneral revision of salaries and gradiiTg was advocated by Dr. Thomson. ° Mr. Sheat said the present was, a most inopportune time to adopt the differentiation of payments to men and women teachers. If there were a case for this it could be considered when the cuts were being restored. He moved a motion protesting against the commission’s recommendation of differentiation, Mr. Cockei they must be careful not to reduce salaries so far as to make the profession unattractive. The question of salaries and grading was considered to be beyond the scope of the association and no action was taken. At the conclusion of the meeting Okaiawa ladies provided supper, thanks for this E-Anrr returned hj’. Dr. .Tliom-