CONTINUING EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 16, 14 October 1918, Page 6

CONTINUING EDUCATION

LEGISLATION CONTEMPLATED

Speaking in Christcliiirch on the £fncnl question of compulsory continuation education, the Hon. J. A., llanan said that among other legislative proposals that he was eubmitting for tt-c consideration of Cabinet were clauses giving power to bring about about tins forward step. He recognised that there were difficulties in the way or providing the necessary school accommodation and an adequate supply or trained teachers, but he was anxious to obtain the required power in the meantime' with a view to bringing tlie scheme gradually into operation. Con : timiin", the Minister said that to tavc made education free and compulsory up to a certain point was a step of tremendous importance. For the sake of the individual, no less than for the sake of the State, the compulsory principle should be extended. There are now two kinds of secondary education—that is to sav post primary educatibn-(l) that furnished in the high schools and (2) that furnished in the technical schools. Whatever be the natural best of children, whatever be their future occupation a secondary 'course of one kind or the other will soon be recognised as indispensable, and as the State has proved the wisdom of making primary education compulsory, so will it in time see that what was good for the children up 1 , to tho age of 14 would be equally beneficial for three or four additional years. "Wo assign too early," said Mr. Hanan, "to boys and girls the moulding of their own lives." Gkwd results would accrue if education; were continued some years longer. He entertained the sanguine hope that tho idea will prevail among the intelligent majority that in the future children should'remain longer under instruction and authority than they are required to do now. In this connection tho Minister referred to &<* benefits derived from part-timo day classes for young workers.