TEACHING THE CHILDREN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 60, 3 December 1937, Page 6

TEACHING THE CHILDREN

Need for Contimiity In Instruction MR MADDISON'S VIEWS "'It is a position that we do not desire, nor do we seek," said Mr G. A. Maddison, chairman of the Hawke's Bay Education Board, when he made reference in his address at Parent's Day at Parkvale School yesterday to the fact that, during the past four years, there had been over 30 changes in the teaching staff at that school. Mr Maddison explained that the position was due to the regulations governing the teaching profession, and was part of the educational system of the Dominion. Any teacher, who had been at a school for njore than two Decembers, had the right to apply for a position on the staff of any other school in New Zealand. That was the law. "The need is for more stability and continuity of teaching," said Mr Maddison, who agreed that the present position was unsatisfactory. 'He contended that more stability and continuity would mean greater benefits resulting, as far as the pupils and schools were concerned. A special committee, ineluding the secretaries of the Hawke's Bay, Auckland and "Wanganui Education Boards, and various departmental officers, had been formed, he said, to investigate th,e whole position and to formulate, if possible, a seheme which would ensure greater stability. The question was one that bristled with difficulties. "I hope, however, that we shall see something tangible along these lines next year," he said, "adid that we will have greater stability and a better shrvice form the educational system of the Dominion." Mr Maddison said that he looked upon a child as a human being with a destiny of its own, and contended that it was up to all to allqw' the child to "extend itself in ability, integrity and industry. The future welfare of the country and of 'the world, depended on the boys and girls of to-day, and he felt somehow at times that the men and women of to-day had, in some measure, fallen down in their duty in that they had no tmade the world better than it was at present. "Sound training, along proper lines, will.save the world from disinteration, suffering and war," he said. "The need is for the guidance of the child in what . is' right, both mentally and physically, and particularly in character building."