‘Lower Quality’ Of Country Education

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 1

‘Lower Quality’ Of Country Education

Country children were getting an education of lower quality than that given to city children because of the district high schools’ difficulties in attracting staff, said Mr G. G. Leith, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, yesterday.

The institute, a teacher organisation comprised mainly of primary school teachers and teachers’ college lecturers, is holding its Dominion executive meeting in Christchurch. Mr Leith said the status and effectiveness of district high schools were one of the

institute's chief concerns at present. A full investigation was being made in to the problem, and questionnaires had been sent out. He said the institute hoped to be able to make some firm proposals to the Education Department in the next two or three months. The education boards were equally concerned, and were also investigating the problem.

Mr Leith said that more money for district high school teachers might be the answer, but other things would probably have to be done too. Some district high school teachers were teaching three forms at once and trying to run three or four different courses.

“It is a difficult teaching load,” he said, “that doesn’t appeal when compared with the teaching load in town schools. The chief answer is to provide more staff at a lower roll number, and to appoint more senior staff at an earlier point in the school’s growth.” Mr Leith said the whole object was to provide the best possible education for rural children, comparable with that provided for city children. “We know the Government is sympathetic,’’die said.