REPORT ON EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18636, 4 August 1930, Page 5

REPORT ON EDUCATION.

CRITICISM FROM AUCKLAND. The Board of Governors of "Auckland Grammar Schools have issued the following statement on the report of the Recess Education Committee. “The late Sir George Grey, perhaps the most democratic Govemo* New Zealand ever had —who introduced 'one man one vote’ at a time when the rich man had a dozen votes to the poor man's one—was the statesman who endowed the Auckland Grammar School to enable the son of a labourer, or a Maori, to receive the same education as was given to the rich man’s son. An avowed purpose of the Education Committee in its Report, is to level down me stanaaiu of education, which is now given in the Grammar scnools or Auckland irrespective of class distinctions. This j aspect of the report will be welcomed I by the private secondary schools j which, moreover, have nothing to lose I and all to gain by being allowed to participate in the National bursaries which are to replace the scholarships for which at present the pupils of State schools only are eligible. “This means, in plain language, that higher education will be the privilege of the rich only, and the labourer’s son. instead of being able as at present to rise to the highest position in industry or the professions, will, if this report goes through, be unfitted for the higher walks of life, and will be practically compelled to follow in his father's footsteps as an artisan. It I is to be hoped that the democratic ! members of the House will oppose I with all their might this insidious atI tempt at class legislation. “Could anything be wider or better j than the franchise by which the ; Auckland Grammar School Board is ; elected—on which the Municipality is j represented by the Mayor of Auckj land; the University of New Zealanu j is represented by three members; both : Houses of Parliament are represented by three members; three members are elected by the Auckland Board of Education. one of whom is chairman of the Technical College; and two members are elected by parents of pupils. Many of the Board members have been and are sound, clear-headed business men. who have made their names known throughout New Zealand for their business ability—such as the late Mr J. H. Upton, Chairman of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand: his son, Mr P. H. Upton, General Manager of the South British Insurance Co.; Mr Oliver Nicholson; Mr J. Stanton, City solicitor; and others. “The recommendation of the Committee is to disband this Board of business men in order that the Deoartmental officials, mostly ex-school teachers who have had no business | training, may have greater authority. I But the Board is not composed of ! business men only, it has amongst its ; m er>'-bpvp VK' f “rl eduC°Urtv.oli,ct<? oc Professors Thomas and Segar. Profesi sor Thomas is ‘hahmrn nf the ; and he m n™ vHH. j the principals of the five Grammar ; schools. Various members of the i Board travel at their own expense 1 to Europe. Canada and America so as to keep in touch with the latest develooments in education. At the present r*->orpemt the vice-chairman. Dr E. erton. is on such a world tour. The whole trouble is that the Board is throttled by regulation, so that any coordination of action among the various tyoes of post-primary schools represented thereon is almost impossible. The chairmen of three Boards (Grami mar. Educational and Technical) meet j on the Grammar School Board, but are | powerless, for example, to arrange for

I the transfer of a single pupil from Kowhai to the Grammar School. Technical College to Grammar School, or vice versa. Had they more power, articulation would soon be simplified and the present lack of co-ordination would be lemedied, without either expense or unsettlement. “The administrative cost of the five schools under the Auckland Grammar School Board is only 6/1} per pupil per I annum, or 50 per cent, less than the average cost per pupil quoted on page | 40 of the Committee's Report, Besides i its five Schools, the Board controls a | School Hostel and manages huge endowments, houses, leaseholds and tarming properties. “The Committee's Report leads the House to believe that there will be a saving of some thousands of pounds if the new method is adopted. This is as erroneous as are the figures regarding the cost of education in New South Wales put out by the Committee; these the chairman of the Auck- ; land Board of Education has already shown to be wrong. The whole idea of allowing ex-school teachers such as the Director, Assistant Director, and other principal officials of the Department in Wellington to have the spending of £4,000,000 is ridiculous. The permanent head of the Department, under the Minister of Education, should be a capable business man with organising ability. Such a man would save the country thousands of pounds a year by efficient administration at headquarters. He would also consolidate and clarify regulations, salary scales and other business points, I which few schoolmasters have the ability to deal with. He would also remove friction with Boards, in that Boards of business men would be dealing with a business man instead of an ex-school teacher.”