SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 224, 16 June 1920, Page 8

SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS

minister promises reforms. By Telegraph—Press Ansooiatlon. m , „ Foxton, Juno 15. ' The Hon. C. J. Parr performed the opening ceremony'at the new school this afternoon, and prior to the ceremony he was Accorded a civic reception. Speaking at the opening the Minister emphasised the fact thai .£700,000 worth of school buildings weio either in course of construction or else authorised, by the Department. About .£300,000 worth, had, however, not yet been begun by the education boards. That was duo to shortage of. labour, and more especially to the severe shortago of materials. The new regulation under which only essential building wouSd be permitted by the Government, he hoped, would help the boards in speeding up their building programme. He desired nil education boards to hasten as far as possible the construction of schools. Other people should wait, but the children should not wait. The principles of ordinary humanity dictated tl:nt the children must be housed comfortably for school work before anything olso. Though the cost of building construction tras about 110 per cent, higlior to-day than in 1914, the Government, realising the needs of the children, would proceed vigorously. He proposed to summon shortly a conference of representatives of education boards to tako counsel with him as to tha best means of pushing on their building programme. A reform, perhaps as necessary as building, was that mor? teachers should be obtained. The Minister said that lie proposed to do this by raising the status of the teacher. • lie hoped very shortly to make thte teaching profession more attractive as regards remuneration. This would attract young men who at present sougiht Employment In other directions. He wanted tho best nf our young people to take "up teaching. Mrs. Parr, wife of the Minister, unveiled a memorial to ex-pupils who foil in the war.