EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
DEMANDS OP P.P.A. <' Tho views of the Protestant Political Association on some questions perlainiiij? to public education in this country wero presented to the Minister of Education (Mr. C. J. Parr)'by the Dominion Council of tho association yesterday. The Rev. Howard Elliott was the first speaker. Ho said that tho association stood for the maintenance of the present national system of education, and did not regard with favour the establishment of private or secondary schools. Then he proceede;} to point oiit how in his opinion the aatior-al system _ was being undermined, and denominational schools fostered by tho State itself. lie mentioned the carriage of children free on the .trains to denominational schools, this service being denied to scholars going to State schools if they went on their journey -past any other State school. He pointed out how in some districts tho State schools had been reduced in grading by the opening of private schools; He objected also to the carriage of nuns free over tho railways between Westport and Millerton, while over tho same track teachers of State schools, travelling for exactly the same reasons, had to pay. Ho urged that tho cost of tho carriage of children to sectarian schools /was a heavy one to the State, and that as there was a tendency among denominations to build schools for their own people, tho charge upon the revenues would bo ft growing one. If the people liked to pay for the enrriage of their children to denominational schools, tho association could Have nothing to say, but the association did object to tho expenditure of State money for the carriage of children, on the State railways to private schools, when the- effect of this must bo tho undermining of the State system of education. Mr. Elliott dealt also with the teaching 'of history, and the care that should he talcen to 6oe that every instructor of the young frag a loyal subject of the King. He urged' that to ensure this only those taught in State schools should bo appointed as teachers. Last o£ all, Mr. Ell'iott opolio of scholarships, making the demand on behalf of tho association that no scholarship provided by public funds should be tenable at any private school. Mr. A. Donald snoke of the need for better school buildings and better pay for teachers. Ho did not deal with anv sectarian issues at all. Mr. Parr. in reply, said that Mr. Elliott bad dealt with some very imnortant questions of administration, and before lie could reply to them all as Minister ho would liavo to inform himself more fully upon them. No one would be more tenacious than ho of the national svstem of education, and he hoped never ( to see in his time any infraction of the principlo of free, secular, and compulsory education. Somo of the questions now raised were years old, 6omo of them twenty years old—and he was a new Minister, only a few weeks in office. _ On these important questions of administration he would have to inform himself fully, and then consult with the Prime Minister, and his colleagues in Cabinet upon them. On the question raised with regard to the carriage of teachers on tho railways, he could see no logical reason for giving free passage on the railways to toaehers of private schools if teachers of State schools were to bo denied the same privilege. Loeically, the thing was .not arguable. With respect to the matter raised concerning tho loyalty of teacliers. lie was in entire accord with Mr. Elliott. He did not want any teacher in tho sfrvicQ who was disloyal, and .he wanted to see any disloyal man or woman put out of the service. If it could be shown to him that (here was reason to susjieet the loyalty of any teacher ho would have very full inquiries .made, and if 6iicli disloyalty were proved against any teacher he would take such steps as ho could to jemovo the children from the influence of such a Iwicher. Ho was quite in accord with tho deputation in their request that history should bo given a more important place in the school'curriculum. He wns in favour also of the development of medical and dental inspection, and even trealmentof school children, and he hoped to make a statement shortly about dental inspection and treatment of children which would give some particulars of a considerable advancement in activity in this respect. Cabinet had given him authority to appoint two more medical inspectors to bring the stnff up to reasonable strength.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 195, 13 May 1920, Page 8
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762EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 195, 13 May 1920, Page 8
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