EDUCATION POLICY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 273, 23 November 1935, Page 6

EDUCATION POLICY

GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS PLEA FOR FRANK STATEMENT 1 ; “The vagueness of the Govern- • ment’s educational policy, as an- , nounced in its election manifesto, J has been the subject of comment ! from several quarters,” said Mr ' G. R. Ashbridge, secretary of the I New Zealand Educational InstiI tute, in an address to the Central Hawke’s Bay branch of the Institute last evening. “A few days after the manifesto was published the Institute alsked for I a more definite statement of policy. I In this it was immediately supported I • I’rofesso'r W. BL €k>uld, Professor of Education at Victorifa University College, who said that the Government’s policy reminded him of a famous company prospectus of South Sea Bubble times which asked people to subscribe towards “an undertaking of great aidvantage, but nobody ito know w'hat it. is. ” During the past week both the New Zealand Secondary Teachers’ Association and 'the New Zealand Federation of Teachers have also asked the Government to make a plain and straightforward announcement of its intentilons. ”

Mr Ashbridge said that the absence of the director overseas was no obstacle to the making of such a statement. It was true that the Government might have to modify its policy -in the light of -the director’s report but noltihing the directolr could discover could make any difference to the fact that there were educational needs which were mis obvious as they were pressing. He instanced such needs as a reduction; in the size of the classes in {primary schools, better provision for the education of young children, increased ciapitotton allowances to school committees.

“We have been expecting a statement of policy from the Minister for Education,” concluded Mr Ashbridge, “but so far one has not been made. It is to be sincerely hoped that before the election takes place the Minister will tell us just where the Government stands.”