SEVEN MORE SCHOOLS VISITED BY MINISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 10

SEVEN MORE SCHOOLS VISITED BY MINISTER.

HON H. ATMORE’S LAST DAY IN CHRISTCHURCH

The last day of his stay in Christchurch was another busy one for the Hon Harry Atmore, Minister of Education. He saw four schools before lunch this morning, and this afternoon he inspected three more before leaving for Wellington in the evening. This morning Mri Atmore was accompanied by Mr H. Holland, M.P., Mr H S. S. Kyle, M.P* and Messrs W. Johnson, C. S. Thompson and Penlington, of the Education Board. The first school visited was the St Albans School. The head master, Mr J. E. Thwaite, and the chairman of the committee, Mr E. Billcliff, pointed out to the Minister how old the school was, and unsuited to modern conditions. They requested a new janitor’s house, as the present one was most unsuitable.

Mr Atmore said that he agreed with their requests, and would give the matter his deep consideration. ‘‘We intend to bring great reforms in education,” sand the Minister in his address to the children, ‘‘and the greater part of them will eventuate this year. The nations want higher ideals. The only safety for the world is the inculcation of ideals of service in the children in our schools.”

The next school visited was the new school at Waimairi. The Minister exprsesed himself very pleased with the building, with the exception of the infant room, which was used on account of the congestion. He said that that would be remedied at the earliest possible moment. He was shown over the school by Messrs T. C. Wilkins, head master, and R. D. Cole, chairman of the committee.

‘‘Service is the highest ideal of all,” Mr Atmore told the assembled children. “We hope to alter the system of education and bring it more in touch with the realities of life. We can improve a system which till now had been too much influenced by an academic bias. Teaching is one of the noblest of pursuits. I can assure head masters of primary schools that, when finance allows it, they will have an increase in salary.”

The party went to the Upper Riccarton School, and were met by Messrs W. Cole, of the committee, and J. Mottram, head master. It was explained to the Minister that the school urgently required more accommodation. A rest-room built out of funds collected by the committee had had to be converted into a class-room to accommodate the pupils. Mr Atmore said he would give the matter his consideration. The Prebbleton School was the next call, and there the Minister, after he had met the head master, Mr C. Kibblewhite, and the chairman, Mr G. Miller, was welcomed in an address given by Master Miller. The boy’s effort pleased the Minister very much. It was pointed out that the teachers had to come out from Christchurch every day. In consequence the children w r ere handicapped in their plav and recreation. They had to wait about till nine o’clock till the masters came. It was asked that the Government should assist in the purchase of a house for the head master.

Mr Atmore, after inspecting a suggested property, advised the committee to make their request through the Canterbury Education Board. When it came before him he would give it sympathetic consideration.