CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 12

CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS

Our Own Correspondent.)

Waipukurau Headmaster Discusses jEducational Trends

(From

VVAiPUJvUxvAU, JLast rxignv. Tke proposal to consolilate the Waipukurau and Waipawa district liigli scliools ivas touched on by Mr V. Parsons, keadmaster of tlie Waipukurau Higk School, at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Waipukurau to-day. "It does not inatter wliether tlie school is here or in Waipawa," said Mr Parsons. "That is not the main thing. If the two secondary schools ivere to be consolidated it would mean a gxeater number of pnjpils, a bigger staff and. I tliink, ruore efficient teaching, because there would be a better chance of getting specialised teachers for certain phases of the work. "I have been led to believe that there is tremendous feeling over this questi'on, hut I tliink we should look at it from the point of vieyv of the children." The present trend was to place the empliasis more on thechild than on the subject, said Mr Parsons. Teachers today were more concerned with discovering weaknesses and seeking remedies. Through the abolition of the proficieucy certificate the teachers had more time to concentrate on tlie individual pupii's capacity to learn and special iuterests. Changes in the New; Zealand educational system were imminent. Coeducation (teaching boys and girls together) Avas finding favour overseas and also in New Zealand; there had always been co-education in the district high schools. i The speaker dealfc witli the need for closer co-operation between parents and teachers. He would like to see parents : discussing with the teachers the welt'are of their children. The local Home and School League should not he merely a money-making concern. It should [ be an association of parents and teachers working together for the benefit of the school. Progress wonld be made if, i in addition to cards, the leagu'a gathi eringa included discussions OR educational problems. (Hear, hear). The advantage of talks to the pupils . by business men of th etown was stressed by Mr Parsons. For instance, " scholars in the book-keeping class would l benefit from an address by a bank manager. The viewpoints of the business man and theeducationist were dif- . ferent. He would be pleased to give an.y assistance he could regarding suh7 jects, etc. 3 The headmaster rpade relercnee to . the visit the scholars had made to the , power board's concrete pole laotory / saying that 'such inspections were valuable. Other local industries coultl be visited with advantage. After dealing with various types of 3 schools and thanking the audience for, , an attentive heariug, Mr Parsons was j "heartily thanked ou the motiou of Mr mH. B, Eoach, in