The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1930. SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ STATUS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18554, 29 April 1930, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1930. SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ STATUS.

In view of the centralising trend of educational control within the last few years, it is not surprising that school committees from end to end of New Zealand are becoming weary in their well-doing, and it is not unlikely that a number of public schools, in the centres at least, may revert to the control of Education Boards because of the refusal of householders to accept the unceasingly unsatisfactory status now imposed on school committees. What is surprising, however, is that for so many years such conscientious service has been rendered by public, spirited citizens despite official discouragement, and the failure of Ministers of Education to recognise the strong claims of primary schools to more generous incidental allowances. For years, members of school committees have devoted their time and talents and sometimes generous contributions from their private purses, in the interests of primary education. But a strongly entrenched bureaucracy has steadily stripped local educational authorities of nearly every vestige of control, until it is difficult to discover the administrative functions reposing in the hands of school committees. Genuine interest in the welfare of the primary schools, however, has actuated thousands of householders to undertake, year after year, the onerous duties of school-committeemen, regardless of official rebuffs and the persistent, efforts of professional educationists to disparage the qualifications of local educational authorities. But the work has been carried out, without anticipation of commendation from those in high places or recognition of the invaluable services the committees have always rendered in the interests of educational progress. Nevertheless, it has been hard to retain interest in the administrative work of the primary schools in the face of the bureaucratic tendencies of the Department, but since , the Government, through the Minister, has refused to recognise the just claims of school committees for increased allowances to meet the needs o< the schools, it is not surprising that a growing disinclination to serve on school committees has been shown this year. We think we can say without fear of contradiction that the strongest representations have been made within recent years in support of the claims of school committees for more adequate incidental allowances, it is generally recognised that the work of householders and parents who serve on school committees has been well down, but it savours of trespassing on the public-spiritedness of the men and women who are prepared to undertake the onerous duties of caring for the primary schools of the Dominion, to ask them to act as collectors in quest of additional funds required to maintain the schools, which the Minister refuses to provide. It is regrettable, of course, that feelings of exasperation have prompted numbers of householders to throw up the sponge, particularly in the Wellington district, where the representatives of the householders —who have from time to time made such strong representations—have reason to feel that they have fought a losing battle in their efforts to compel the educational authorities to recognise the reasonable claims of primary education to more adequate financial provision to meet tlie growing needs of the schools. It is interesting to note that the Minority Report of the Primary School Syllabus Revision Committee contains tlie following pronouncement on the much discussed question of local control: We are firmly convinced that a complete revision of the education system is an absolute necessity, especially on its administrative side. The centralisation of administration has resulted in an enormous growth of the cost without in any measure conducing to efficiency or improving the education imparted to the children. On the other hand centralisation has diminished local interest, which is the life-blood of the schools, particularly in country districts, where a liberal measure of local control spurs parents and residents generally to effort to improve the school surroundings and add to the comfort of the pupils. While central control necessarily involves delay, direct control ensures promptness of action and reduces the cost of avoiding a waste of time and stationery in the conduct of correspondence, which entails the employment of a larger staff than would otherwise be necessary. It would also enable more and speedier • attention to be given by the Minister and his chief advisers to matters of higher moment. Local boards and committees would be productive of economy and efficiency and tend to more cordial relations all roynd.

Very little interest was shown in the annual elections in Timaru and district last night. It should be said, however, that parents and children and friends of the schools generally, appreciate the work of the committees, and it is widely recognised that without vigorous local activities, popular interest in educational affairs, which has shown a decided tendency to wane within recent jrears, will never ha revived.