SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 8

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

THE BRUNSWICK MEETING BY CHIEF INSPECTOR BENEFITS OF SCHEME ADVANCED Io discuss the question of closing the Bri i swick School and transporting the pupils to the Aramoho School as proposed by the Wanganui Education Board, householders of the Brunswick School district met the Chief Inspector of Schools, Dr. J. W. Mdlraith, un Tuesday night. Accompanying Dr. Ylcllrairh were the Rev. G. S. King and Mr. W. T. Benefield (member® of the Wanganui Education Board), Mr. G. N. Boulton (secretary) and Mr. A. H. McMurtrie (senior inspector in the Wanganui district). Mr. J. Brownlie, chairman of the School Committee, presided over a large attenda nee. iDr. Mcllraith said that the Minister of Education was of the opinion that consolidation should be effected wherever possible but he wanted everybody to gi. into the question with their eyes open. The small school, once a necessity was now no longer required as a result o u ' the speeding up of transport and changes of condition.® in living. In the obi (lays it was necessary to take the school to the children; now the position wa- reversed and the means were obtained to take the children to the school. The salaries uf teachers in a g cat measure depended on the size of a school and consequently the country [schools secured the inefficient or unexperienced teachers. Aery good work wa„ done in these schools under the cir-cum.-tances but a teacher in these sma?< sclools had to teach every class. It was not wise to put up with inferiot eGueaiional facilities when better were available—each child had only one opportunity for education. "Where the fuu.re welfare of the children was concerned, sentiment for an old school should not be allowed to hold sway. '.l’he large school had many advantages over the small school. The classes and the teachers could be better classified and it was not necessary for one teacher to teach eight classes. The !t achers could make themselves in the lic.k hing of one class and the pupils had a greater opportunity for extended edui cat’Gn. Education was now no longer fn’ished at the conclusion of the prin.a y school classes. If these pupils from country schools were taken into the city schools they would secure a broader education; they would receive superior physical training land recreation. At the present time the children in the country schools were not getting a fair deal, although the patents were contributing toward the cost (f education. The well equipped school? were erected in the towns where there were the number®. What he was trying io do was to give the country i child all the advantages that the town child received. Under consolidation, fhe pupils would be mote regular in attendance for they would be picked up almost at. their floors. Special classes could be provided at the larger school.® In Hie cities for ihe education of the backward pupiis. Under the present system nothing could be done to assist such ( hil 'ien in the backblock districts. The unit* would come when these children w.iuld. be attended to in ihe cities. Taerc was such a class in Wanganui lane an* school which consolidated with I W: i.oanui schools would reap the benei tit s of t his class. • .i. Auckland 24 schools had been con. ;s- lidpted and one school bad involved I the *. ifnsport of over 296 pupils. The , I'tlijaiiuu Department had under conjs? i(t’,on five buses for the transport of I these pupils. In the Canterbury district I 17 schoo's had been consolidated. Not 1 one of these communities had ever looked back. I The, opinion that the scheme was only [to cause a drift to the town was the I oul> argument that he had ever heard [aga’nst consolidation. With eonsolida|tion the advantages of the town and [the courttv were combined for country pupi’s. Country life, would be more Ijrnpu’ar ami an opportunity would be presented of stemming the ride toward the town Fat more people would be ?.‘tra.ted ro Ihe country if the educational >a< .ties for country school chil dren were equivalent to those offering in the town. “The large school.’’ he said, “will not divorce the young person from the Hand; rather it will give, him the mental and physical equipment that will make rural life pleasant and profitable. ' It will, of course, give him the equipment necessarv for life in cities also, for it can never be contended that the highest positions in commerce and the professions should be the privilege only of those educated in the cities. j “No fear need be expressed that the (elimination of the small school will depress land values,” said Dr. Me- , flraith. “Experience has proved that rhe effect is often the reverse; too often farmers who look to their children’s I future, farmers who would be a decided | acquisition to any community, abandon I the idea of settling in an isolated area jcr.ee they see the inadequate educational facilities provided.” ! In concluding, Dr, Mcllraith said that it was not only vain but foolish trying lo produce the educational results ■ necessary to-day with the tools of yes- • terday. 11 Mi\ W. T. Benefield said that he had • recently made inquiries regarding con- , solidation in Auckland. The opposition i to the introduction of the scheme there i had been stronger than it was in Bruns- ! wick. Regarding the health of the > children, parents in Auckland were of the opinion that it had been improved because they did not get wet feel and wet clothes on rainy days. jn answer to a question. Mr. G. N. ? Boulton said that the Wanganui Educal tion Board had not the power to 1 enforce consolidation. Thar power was [ in the hands of the Minister of Educa- ■ tion. i In answer to a question, Dr. Mc- * Uraith said that consolidation, although ■ it was an economy measure, was not an • economy at the expense of the education of the children. ’ Mr. Boulton said that the scheme would be given a two years’ trial and if it proved unsatisfactory the Education Board would recommend the Minister of Education to build a new school at Brunswick. A yeaf’s trial could not be given as the contractor for the service, who was obliged to purchase a new truck, would not accept less than a two year's contract. A ballot on this proposal resulted in it being defeated by 27 votes to 16. Dr. Mcllraith was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.