EDUCATION MATTERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 8

EDUCATION MATTERS.

ADDBESS B.Y ME. E. H. ANDREWS. Mr B. H. Andrews, chairman of the Education Board,'addressed the householders of St..: Albans last night upon the aims and objects of. education. Mr T. P. Moore, chairman of ,tho School Committee,, presided over a poor attendance. Mr Andrews complimented the committee for their endeavour to create interest in school mattei'3. There seemed to be- a total disinterestedness when it came to the election of a School Committee. One of the chief reasons for it, he thought, was that the position of the committee was misunderstood by the public to a great extent. The committee seemed to be a body without any power; elected merely to see that the playground was kept clean, and such unimportant work. That, to a certain extent, was' true. a school committee was an important body, and exercised 'a great influence. Every man and woman had a vital interest in the matter; for education was a great uplifting force. Education was the greatest asset for the reason that i educated people were more efficient. The man with the trained brain was of infinitely more value to the country and tfi© prosperity of' the people than the untrained man. There were those who said that too much education was an evil; that everyone would want to be members of the "keep your coat on" professions. Well, that was not because of education, but in spiteof education. The educated man realised the dignity of labour. One of the great objects of education was to break down false class barriers. In the past, wealth had been what counted. Education, however, placed the people in a position commensurate with their brain power. It might be thought to be a Utopian idea, but. the ideal aim of eduy cation was efficiency, equality, ment, and ambition. They must frame their education to those ends, and the way to do it was to get their best men and women into the work of education —on the school committees and boards, and the Education Department. Asked by Mr Moore whether the fact of nominations for school committees closing a week prior to the election was responsible to any extent for lack of interest. Mr Andrews said that he thought it was. Much more interest had ruled when nominations had closed upon the night of the election. Mr Andrews said that the proposal that 'schools should be managed by such bodies as borough and county councils had _ emanated from the Educational Institute, and not from the Government. Personally, he would be sorry to see such a scheme in operation. Outlining the qualifications for candidature to a school committee, Mr Andrews said that he had to be a householder resident in the school district, or the parent or guardian of children attending the_ school. The right of the husband applied to the wife, and vice versa.

A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Andrews for Bis address.