Education Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1922, Page 4

Education Conference.

DEPUTATION TO AIR MASSEY. WELLINGTON, September 29. A deputation from tlie Education Board’s Association waited upon the Minister of Education to-day to submit a number of the remits passed at their recent conference. Air Banks, who was the chief spokesman. referred to the value of such meetings and added that the discussion with the Departmental officers had done them good. The mutual interchange of ideas would, he said, have n good effect. The first matter brought under the Minister’s notice was the remit, regarding junior high schools.

Mr Parr said the remit was in accordance with his policy. They should make a trial of the four different types of schools, and there could he no general extension of the scheme unless it was proved a success. Tf it weie successful, the country would demand its extension. In reference to the suggested visit of tht Director of Education to Great Britain to investigate educational methods, Air Parr agreed that the idea was a good one. There had, he said, been great changes going on in the educational world, and he had an uneasy feeling that we in New Zealand were lagging lieliind in the experimental spirit. The question of sending the director was, however, a matter for the Cabinet to decide.. It was pointed out that the 10 pel cent reduction in the grant for education buildings maintenance would fall heavily on the hoards, especially as they had provided during the first five months of the financial year for maintenance on the old scale. Mr Parr agreed that there was something in that point, lmt the cut was not made by him, hut hv his masteis in Parliament. In view of what had been stated, he would, however, submit the matter to the Cabinet and endeavour to get an additional grant placed on the .supplementary estimates. Speaking generally members of the deputation referred to the success of their conference and their meetings with the Director of Education, and stated that as a result of nil this they felt sure there would he less friction in the future between the boards and the Department.

Air Parr expressed his pleasure at such an announcement. His desire was that the educational machinery of New Zealand which was unique, should work as smoothly as possible. At ith three different bodies concerned—the school committees, the Education Boards and the Department—there was likely to be room for disagreement, hut they were all pa:t-ners in the sue concern and as such they should endeavour to ermipuse their differences. It would he iiist ns unwise, indeed foolish, for them to quarrel as it would he ill the ease of a business partnership. It would he far better to endeavour to (vine to an agreement II? would he tin party to any undue interfeteme with the duties and responsibilities, and ho .also, as Minister, had his responsibilities to Parliament which looked to him to see that the huge vide for education was well spent.

In legat'd to the remit about a continuous audit, it was slated that, two auditors could do the work. Mr purr: That would cost .01900 a year.

A member of the deputation: But you would save more than that Mr Pa it: Tf it can be shown that it will save money, it shall ho done. The conference had formulated a remit to the effect that it would lie a retrograde step to place school buildings under the ci ntrol of the Public Winks Department. The Boards could build cheaper.

Mr Parr was inclined to agree with tin's, hut he had noticed that there was a <»-eat difference in the cost of schools in different districts. In one a school would cost £]o,ooo and in another as good or a- hotter school would he built for £IO.OOO.

It was suggested that at next conference a saving would I*' effected if pnly one member and the secretary from each board attended the ooniereices in future.

Mr Parr agreed, and added that possibly it might not he necessary to hold a conference next year.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. WELLINGTON. September 27. The Minister of Education, whose absence from the Education Boards Conference had been adversely commented on b.v some members, attended to-day and delivered an address on junior high schoools, which considerably cleared the air. Ho explained they were to deal with children of 12 to 14, and t-o make the schools more fit for the children. Ho laid great stress on tlie fact that the primary schools were all behindhand with their work. Children were taking till 14 to get through the sixth standard. He quoted at length the opinion of Mr T. U. Wells, of Auckland, who was strongly in favour of the new system.

A member said that had Mr Parr been able to give his views earlier, a lot of friction would have been avoided. Another, later on, said the Minister’s statement indicated a change of front which, if made earlier, would have averted all the criticism levelled at it.