PARENTS AND TEACHERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 61, 10 April 1946, Page 5

PARENTS AND TEACHERS

FIRST MEETING HELD EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD ATTENDANCE Over sixty parents and teachers gathered at the Whakatane High School on Monday evening, for the first general meeting of the newly formed Parent-Teach-er Association. The meeting was strictly informal and consisted of an address, a discussion, several musical items and a social supper. The interest shown in the proceedings was apparent from the lively manner in which both parents and teachers indulged freely in questions during the time allotted, and we feel that without doubt, the organisation will prove itself ex'tremely beneficial to the school, ;and the welfare and education of the children generally. The Rev. H. M. Bell presided.

The President opened the meeting by welcoming all present, particularly those who had not been at the inaugural meeting some days before. ‘This was the opportunity many parents had been waiting for—an opportunity to discuss matters pertaining to their children, with the teachers. The Association was going to be -«rf great value in this direction. Education today was a community concern, and it was only through a Par-ent-Teacher Association that views -could be exchanged and discussed. Education and Business An instructive and interesting address was given by Mr H. G. Warren, President of the Whakatane

Chamber of Commerce, on the subject of Education and its Relation to Business, in which the important part played by a sound secondary ;school tuition was emphasised. The address was listened to attentively, -and a number of points, which were -discussed later, were noted by the audience.

“No business can be successful to--day, unless every member of the istaff from the managing director to office boy, has a reasonable education,” said Mr Warren, commencing his address. “It has now become generally accepted as such.” Outlining the growth of business from the time of the; Industrial Revolution in England, Mr Warren pointed out that it was in that era, that specialisation had been born—specialisation which began with the utilisation of coal, and the invention of the steam engine. At that time, he said, a business was usually run by one man, arid conducted at his home. In time perhaps, his son or sons were initiated into the craft, and the firm was enlarged. With the death of the father, the sons worked as a partnership, and thus the first form of private company came into existence. It was not long before .Joint Stock Companies came into being, and from this latter developed the great Trust Funds, now so prominent, particularly in the United States. In this way did the commercial world arise.

Referring to the necessity, and the opportunity for a wider and sounder education in business, Mr Warren said that the time when a boy sat at a desk before a ledger—and could look forward to doing so for the remainder of his life, had passed. There were now universities offering degrees in commerce and economics which were available under the New Zealand system of education to almost any boy or girl. Certainly those who resided in the country were somewhat at a disadvantage, as they were forced to pay board in the city, but nevertheless, the op-

portunity for them to acquire a higher degree of knowledge was there. Scientists were also becoming important in the industrial world and positions open to industrial chemists were* increasing daily. All in all, the growing demands of business were opening more and more avenues to boys and girls who wished to earn their living in the commercial world. Technical Training Needed Perhaps the biggest disadvantage Which confronted boys in rural areas, was the lack of adequate facilities for technical and trade training. In the cities, technical schools there were, but the country towns were far behind in this respect. He instanced Whakatane, where every effort had been made to establish technical training centres but with only moderate success. Certainly there was in this town at present a

woodwork class, and a class for motor mechanic apprentices, whilst it was also being endeavoured to make tuition in commercial work available. Although the class for motor mechanics was still functioning, it sadly needed a building wherein equipment could be stored permanently, and in. which other types of technical training could be given. How necessary such a class was, could be gauged from the fact that at one time pupils travelled from Te Teko and Opotiki once a week to attend.

Efforts, he said, had also been made to establish a class for electricians wherein the theory of the subject, necessary for the qualifying exams could be taught. He also touched briefly <3n the necessity for courses in commercial work for business girls. Continuing, Mr Warren said that he trusted the Association would lend its support to any move made to acquire a technical school in the town, adding that he had no doubt but that all present realised the necessity for furthering the educational possibilities of Whakatane, thereby aiding not only the younger generation, but also the industrial and commercial world in which its members were soon to take their place. Supper and Discussion

In the period which was allotted to questions immediately after the address, a lively discussion took place mainly on the standard of spelling as it now obtained.

The meeting concluded with a social supper served by the ladies of the committee and helpers. During the evening, much appreciated items were given by Miss B. McKie, who sang “Villanell” and “How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings”, Mrs Rushbrook who rendered “Croodlin’ Doo” (a Negro hush song) and “The Cloths of Heaven” accompanied by Mr Rushbrook at the piano, and Mrs Larmer (violin) who played “Minuet and Trio” (Mozart) and “Gavotte” (Gossec) accompanied by Mrs K. Stewart.