SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 247, 13 July 1920, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

CONFERENCE OF ASSOCIATION ADDRESS BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION CURING PAST BLUNDERS Tho second annual conference of tho New Zealand School Committees' Association was opened by tho Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) in tho Education Board offices, last night. Mr. A. G. Wallace presided, and there was a largo attendance of delegates, including several members of Parliament. , Mr. Wallace said ■ the meeting was being held in the interests of the requirements of 171,000 children. There were a number of educational problems needing attention, and tho conference was beJing hold to suggest means of solving some of those problems. School committees throughout the country had done, and were doing, good work, but that fact did not seem to he realised by the Government. Had the education system been better in the past there would not have been so many fcibour troubles to-day. Ever) - means should be taken of inculcating a love of work in the children, for it was only by work that tho inhabitants of a country could progress. The potentialities of the Dominion waro such that they could now talk in milions instead of thousands, and it was their duty to educate the rising generation to bo proud of their birthright. Mr. Wallace urged that schools and school surroundings should be improved, and that the teaching service should be made as efficient as possible. . Faith and Vision. Mr. Parr said he. realised that a school committee could be of distinct use to a community. To have been a member of educational bodies was an undoubted advantage to a Minister of Education, in fact, such knowledge was essential. In assuming his present office he. believed he had taken up the hardest task in tho Government to-day. For many years past there had been an accumulation of neglect, but owing to the exigencies, of tho war, he did not blame the Nationnl Government for being canny in regard to educational-work. A new era hod now dawned, however, and there were no limits to the bounds of educational enterprise, except the faith and vision of those engaged in tho work. (Hear, hear.) All over New Zealand to-day there were overcrowded and out-of-date schools. Everywhere there was a demand for better schools, and the blunders of the past had now to be cured. Well, they were pushing on, and the first thing he was seeking to do was to improve the conditions under which the children were housed in the schools. Parliament last year had voted i! 750,000 for educational purpose, and he intended to use every penny of that sum. One difficulty they were encountering was the high cost of building, but, nevertheless, they intended fo push ahead. During the first six months of this year the Department had authorised the expenditure of .£722,000 on educational purposes.. That was a great sum, considering that it was not many years since in the whole of our year a sum of only .£69,000 was spent by tho Department. He appealed to the education, boards fo push on' With ""heir building programmes, and said that tho Department was prepared to extend- financial assistance if the boards found that the cost of their respective operations was greater than had at first been anticipated-. (Applause.) What he required mest was nn expert, architect nt his right-hand, who 'could give him (idvice regarding the construction of buildings. He was glad to say that such a man was being obtained. At present there were some good schoof. architects, and some who were only fair. Ho believed that there should ao a. system of standardisation in regard to tho design of school buildings in the Dominion. (Hear, henr.) More teachers were needed in the Dominion, and every effort should be made to obtain and train them. In this connection circulars were being issued to tho heads of high schools and grammar schools, urging them to induce their brighter pupils to enter the profession next year, and he hoped they would be able to attract them to tho work. (Applause.) The New, Director, So far &9 classes were concerned, Mr Parr said the ideal he was aiming ni was that a year from now the size of clnsere should be reduced from 130 pupils to 40. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the curriculum, he did not think that any alteration should be made until he had a first-class man at his right hand, Dr. Anderson, the present director, would lie retiring shortly, and the new man should bo a "giant in Israel," one who possessed tho highest qualifications. A voice: Yen will have to pay him. Mr. Parr: "Well, we shall have to look round." The appointment would be made through the Public Service Commissioner, and tho speaker's opinion was that, if necessary, they should go outside New Zealand to find a suitable man: . Years ago, New Zeala.nd' led the way in education roattejs, but to-day England and Scotland were far in advance of tho Dominion.. New Zealand - had a great deal to learn, and it was all important that thoy should get the best ninn for the position of Director of Education. Mr. J. Craigie,. M.P. (Tiniaru): You wilt have to pay him. Mr. Parr: "You will be pleased to know that Cabinet has passed a sum that will add several hundred pounds per annum to the salnry of a new director, so that we ought to attract a good man." Radical changes in tho present system of administration might be necessary, and he had quite an open mind on the matter, but until he could find something better he would not alter the present system, In most of the States, of Australia there was no iacel control and no boards like in New Zealand. -During tho present session ho did not propose to wnko changes in the administrative system, which hud worked fairly well for forty years, but by next year it might be shown that there should be a revision in the interests of the children. On the question of finance, Mr. Parr said that sinco 1914 boards had been authorised to increase their grants to school committees by way of capitation from us. Od. to 9s. per head. That meant that I'arliii/ment had given an increase of GO per cent, in grants to committees. A delegate: The money is all gone, sir. Mr. Parr: "I don't say that the money is not gone, but it cannot be truthfully said that the Department has not made increases." In 1914, the total grants authorised amounted to .£48,450, but for 1920 the amount required would be tolerable increase. If the girnnts were inadequate, then, of course, some increase would be necessary, and Parliament might authorise some moderate increase. (Laughter.) But, before agreeing to any increase, he would have to have evidonco from school committees' balance-sheets that the present allowances were inadequate, Mr. Parr was heartily thanked for his I address. J The Annual Report. I The annual report, which was adopted, slated that there were, as far us could be ascertaine"', about twenty-four associations in i\< Dominion, and of those fourteen had paid their subscriptions and joined the federation. It was trusted that the others would 6ee their way clear to link up and so form a complete union. It was pleasing to note that several of the remits carried at tho last conference had been given effect to, ai\d niany more were likely to bo brought into effect in the near future. It was now "up to" the associations and committees to impress their requirements on members of Parliament, and lot them sco that they meant business. The conferenco adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day.