The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17th, 1921. SCHOOL DESKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17th, 1921. SCHOOL DESKS.

I tin Auckland Education Hoard has admitted that in lour-lifths of the .schools in Auckland the seating accommodation is obsolete, but owing to the heavy expenditure involved, it was impossible to alter ..us deieet, and the old unhealthy, cramping, accommodation has to remain. \\ hat is true of Auckland, is, no iloilht, true of every town and

city in the Dominion. In some respects mir education plant is very up-to'-dale. We haw, ,|.ir example, school medical ollicers who perlorm very usd til work in < omiectioii wit h the health of school children. But there scents little economy in having these services when the Education Hoards themselves have to admit that the school equipment is defective. Few things can he more prejudicial to a

child’s health than to sit in a cramped and unhygienic position for hours, often in a crowded room. We are always being reminded of the excellent state or the country's trade and finance. but it seems that w hile .railways and roads, quite important affairs, no doubt, are well provided for. there is no money to provide accommodation which the Hoards themselves admit to e desirable. Of course, school chil-

dren have no votes, and the parents do not see their handicap, or else do not understand the position, so nothing is done. In his address this year to the National Union Teachers, in (England, a body representing over 110,000 teachers, the President referred to ‘ the improvised or out-of-date equipment ; the distressing frequency of ancient structures masquerading as schools; the too-prevnient school furni-

ture. the origin of which is shrouded in the mists of antiquity, hut with a claim to historical notice because it provided one of the reasons for the formation of a school medical service to counteract its evil tendencies.’’ This is. perhaps, somewhat cynical, but apparently we are forced to conclude that the impli-

cations are not entirely inapplicable to New Zealand. What is the remedy? The same speaker pointed to it—“l beljqve it would be. for |!m good of cdu.

cation if administrators and teachers jointly promoted some means of securing the active co-operation of parents in the work of administration of schools in which their children spend so much of their lives. Visiting days, education weeks, etc., are all excellent pointers, and go to prove that parents are interested in their children's educational welfare. But some method needs adopting of a less casual nature whereby the school and its work become matters of perifianent interest to the parents in the neighlxmrhood. Many teachers have made tentative cxjjerimonts in this direction, and tlie verdict is a reassuring one. Authorities might encourage the adoption of some suitable plan in their own areas.” If parents really knew and understood the situation, money would noon lie found to provide adequate seating and other accommodation lor school children in our State schools, and instead of lieing luxuries such things as adequate equipment and beautiful schools would demand and receive tirst call on the eon litre's income.