THE YOUNG IDEA.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1926, Page 3

THE YOUNG IDEA.

VALUE OF EDUCATION. PRIME MINISTER’S ADVICE. WELLINGTON, May 17. The world was open to the young idea, said the Prime Minister when opening the annual conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute today. And lie promised that whatever the Government could do to help the cause of education in New Zealand would be done. Ho made a special plea, for the baekblocks child.

It was gratifying, Air Coates said, to find the general tendency of every man and woman to make the education of their children as the first and greatest thing in the fives. A\ hat greater instinct could a man or a woman have than to desire that the children should have a line opportunity in life? Nine-tenths of the working men of the Dominion to-duy considered it their life object to give a good education to their children. “The finest asset we can have is a well-educated community,” Mr Coates went on. ‘‘But this does not cover the white collar gentleman or the lady who considers it infra dig to entry out domestic duties. We are spending more money on education tlrnn any of the Australian States. This gives us satisfaction, but 'we get most satisfaction in believeing that, our system of edurtition is equal to. if not better than theirs. We can only get the relative positions by comparison, however, jand in order to compare -it is necessary for Departmental officers to travel and investigate, and to come into contact with other systems. Perhaps we in New Zealand are insular, but this is a virtue rather thlnn otherwise, for any people who are not proud of tlieir country ill never make much headway.”

Mr Coates said he noted that a spirit of co-operation between ti e teacher and the committee was more apparent in country districts than in the more thickly populated areas, mainly, perhaps because the former were more isolated. But the man in the country had the worst end of the stick always, and the- education of country children was ever a problem for parents. In this direction he though a consolidation system could well he" encouraged. Any suggestion received by the Government for the inirpovement of the education ol the bnokbloeks child would receive most earnest commendation and assistance.

“We know that the Junior High School is to play an important part in our educational system,” Mr Coates continued, “and while there are lactors in our post primary - education leading to higher education, we must not overlook the technical side altogether. AVe must Wave children trained for every avenue of life. Everyone must not wear a white collar and a black coat; everyone cannot. The best tiling is for every mnn to carry cut the job in which lie is interested. Tt. is a mistake to foster the idea that higher education is too good for manual labour.”

In a reference to agricultural education, the Prime Minister said that agricultural pursuits would for many years remain the staple industries of this country, and it was necessary that everything possible to promote this •side of industry be accomplished for the general benefit of the Dominion. He hoped that by next year there would be an agricultural college, where scientific research work could be carried out with practical effect. “Let every chance ‘be given the child,” he concluded. “Let it follow its own instincts and its natural bent. We want to improve our educational system, so that every child will receive equal opportunity when the time comes for them to take up their different walks in life.” /