NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Chronicle (Levin), 8 May 1946, Page 4

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

BEER BOTTLES USED TO EQUIP SCIIOOLS AUCKLAND, May 7. Some of the methods which school committees ancl other hodies nsed to ohtain necessary finance, were condemned hy speakers at a session of the Education Conference when prohlems arising from capitation allowances, maintenance of school grounds and lack of necessary equipment, were introduced by Mr. A. T. Dow, secretary of the Auckland School Committees' Association, and Miss, W. M. Mansfield, representing the Women Teachers' Association. Mr. Dow said in almost all cases the capitation allowance was barefy sufiicient to pay the wages of the cleaiier and fuei hills. Finance for other necessary 'maintenance and improvements had to be made up by the scholars and staffs working at all sorts of moneymaking practices, some of which w-ere not good for the uphringing of the children. Various forms of gamhling and bottle drives were criticised by the principal speakers and delegates. Miss Mansfield said some children knew exactly where, and when to collect empty beer bottles. "Do you think," she asked, "that the residue of Saturday night "beer parties should he put aside to help equip our schools? I say it is not good enough" (applause). Miss Mansfield said the people should not leave the necessary finance and equipmenr merely to the Gavernmeht. That attitude merely reflected apathy. If millions of pouncls cofild he found for military n-eeds in time of war, an awakened public interest couldi ensure a sufiicient education grant to equip the nation 's children to win the harder ftattle of peace. /