Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. PUBLISHED Every Tuesday and Friday. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1920. THE SMALL SCHOOL PROBLEM

Western Star, 26 March 1920, Page 2

Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. PUBLISHED Every Tuesday and Friday. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1920. THE SMALL SCHOOL PROBLEM

lu his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Southland Education Institute, Mr R. 'Mi. Wilson discussed the oft-debated question of country schools, and madte. out a. strong case for the abolition of the small school in favour - of the consolidated school—that is a* central one,) serving a given radius of country. This has been advocated time and again, but residents in the country prefer to have schools as near to their children as possible notwithstanding all the defects inseparable from small schools. By the Educaition Act of 1914 schools must not be closer than four miles. Previously it was three miles. ■ Even to-day there a;e requests for schools within three miles of an existing one. Mr Wilson pointed out that it was impossible to : get suitable buildings and competent teachers for these small schools, with the result that instead of efficiency there was inefficiency, “Is the rural child,” he asked, “now receiving relatively as good an education as the town child? Existing conditions make that almost ixnpossiljle. While the tow'n school has been advancing in efficiency the rural school has in many cases remained where it was years ago. Speaking generally, the town schools of the present are housed in excellent buildings, planned both for architectural beauty and adaptability to the work of- the school. The equipment is modern and efficient. The rooms are ornamented and attractive. Trained and efficient teachers are employed. But it is not so in the country school, too,many of which are sheltered in a one-roomed building, unattractive in appearance, heated by an open fire-place, really useful to keep the teacher warm on cold days. The grounds are usually desolate, covered with unmown grass and weeds, either destitute of trees or surrounded by unsightly ones injudiciously planted.” Having pointed out all the drawbacks attached to small schools, he asked: “What then is the solution of the problem? What can we do to increase the efficiency of the rural schools for the many boys and girls who receive all their education in these schools? How can we increase the loyalty of the rural community to> its school? How can wo keep the children of rural communites in school longer so that they may gain as good an education as that possessed by town children? How can wo improve the rural School buildings and equipment ? How can the rural school help to keep the people of the farms from flocking to the towns? How, in short, can we gain the best possible educational opportunitos for the large proportion of our people who are educated in our rural schoolp?” And lie answered the series of questions - by saying that the solution of the problem was ias above remarked, consolidation or the combining of several small schools in a single larger one, if system that has been in successful operation in some countries for many years. - The system, however, is not popular - in New Zealand, and there is no hope of its 'adoption until residents of rural localities take the initiative in the matter. Mr Wilson expressed the hope that the teachers would do all in their power to impress the people with the importance of the reform! in the hope that, they would see the wisdom of the change.