SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1932, Page 5

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

TEXT-BOOK CONTRACT

Addressing yesterday afternoon's session of the national conference of the School Committees' Associations of New Zealand, Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, said that he knew from experience what school committees had done and what they were up against. They all knew the common goal they were aiming at and,' although there might be several paths to that goal which were not all- in accord, yet there should be sincerity and goodwill in,fighting for a common cause. , The great thing was to present a solid front when, meeting the Minister of Education.

The school books' contract'was the subject of a number of remits before the conference,-these being dealt with all together. The matter, said several delegates, had been fully ventilated and there ivas_ no need to traverse all the arguments against it again. ■ There had been nothing said by the Minister, it was stated, to shake their convictions that the whole thing was wrong. The only action woi-th taking, said one delegate, was that which would lead to thei setting up of a. Select Committee- of the' House "to inquire' into the question.

• In spite of the suggestion that there was no need to traverse' the arguments again, delegates decided to go into committee and to, discuss the, whole matter at great length, so as to be ready with their case -.vhenthe deputation goes to the Minister to-day. .:•...■-'/ ' .'■■'.

Delegates were hot unanimous on the question of the school ago.' A motion urging the Minister of Education to remove the restrictions on scholars entering' the primary schools was carried by eight votes to five. ".'

The conference agreed to a remit affirming the principle that Form 111 classes should be established in all schools where secondary education , facilities were not available, so that the benefits of secondary; education should be distributed to include" the children in the back blocks. The conference .also expressed opposition to the closing down of Grade O schools.