The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1929. MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Tim es. WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1929. MINISTERIAL VISIT.

The visit of the Minister ol Education is an interesting occasion because it has brought to the district one of the most earnest of the members of the new Ministry. When Sir Joseph Marti announced his Cabinet from the limited forces of the elected United Party, it was felt on ail sides, despite the restricted clioiee. that an excellent team had been selected. There was some scoffing at the appointment of Mr Atniore to the portfolio of education. but Mr Almore has been going about the country and steadily making good, till to-day even prominent educationalists, the experts in the control ami direction of education in this countrv, realise that the Minister

is on the right'track, and much good will come from his efforts to reform the education system of the country. Naturally ic needed a man of grit to stand tip against toe accepted theories of the day governing the direction of education in this country, and Mr Atmorc has all the qualities necessary in that respect. What lie thinks o our education system was expressed in the north last week, and reported in the press as follows, he said : “The present system of education was, too academic, and was mostly fitted for people of leisure, and as 98 per cent, of llie girls and hoys of New Zealand had to earn their living, classes would have to he reduced, and it would be the work of the teachers to try and find out what each child was fitted for. Ninety-five per cent, of our wealth tame from the land, and it was his desire to make better conditions in he countrv schools. Settlement if

land was our most important problem, out the large landholders- were not keen fur closer settlement. The greatest era in New Zealand history was during the period when the greatest amount of land settlement took place. The statesmanship of the present Prime Minister would .sooiUbenr fruit, and the farmers would lie helped, and thus unemployment would he reduced and the country’s production increased.” This is real reform, and I here can lie no doubt about Mr Atmore’s courage in tackling the tasklie has set himself. Mr Clayton, ol 1 nangahua. addressing Mr At more at Rt'ofton said he eon*\;a tula ted the Minister upon his attitude in regard to educating farm children for fanning. and not for town life. We wanted to get men hack to the land, and Hie only way was to educate them in the schools. It would do away with a lot of unemployment. If they could not put people on the land, the country would go hack. He sincerely hoped the Minister’s ideas would he carried out. Another phase, of the education system which Mr Atniore is

reviewing \is that •affecting junior high schools, the ini reduction of which were urged by a former Minister of Education, and in establishing which there would bo a very largo additional cost to the education vote. Mr Atmore has not decided his course of action finally, hut is awaiting the outcome of a conference of teachers and others whereat, the matter is to ho lullv probed. The (| nest ion has been before some of the branches of the Teachers’ Institute, and there have been very interesting discussions. Perhaps our readers will be interested in rlie views of Mr L. E. do Berry, a former rector here who achieved ■<•'-- collent results in the District High School.j Snoa’Nug ,nt Dunedin last weelc on Hie question of junior hi'di schools. Mr do Berry expressed the opinion flint education was not a process (hat could be cut un and labiTcd in various sections- it. was one cr,nliiptous process, and ire-lorn P‘".'oh■■legists sf*••ess-il the neees- i‘v f.-r "”i! v and cent inuil v in a child’s endowment. Been pen pertain conditions wei-e satisfactory in England it did cot follow that they would ho so in Now Zealand, for as a mat for of fact, the

Kilim. 1 problems had never occurred in New /malaml. In view of the fact that junior high schools could not ,»e esfc:ihiisliocl in the country, it was dounilul whether it would he wise k> transfer children from the joyful environment of the c.mntry to the town, and such transferences would ,n time accentuate the drift to the .owns. It was clear that the establishment of ju.ii.<r high schools would ,ie. essila.e wholesale translerences. rhe district high schools and Seveiuii standards could do everything that ..as ii.-cess.iry if they got the proper .e;ic!iers in suflicient numbers. Mr de ;3ej'ry vspoke as one with practical ..perioiice, and his views will be incresting in lie-ping 10 mould opinions m what would be not only eo.stly but ertu./fy e.operimeiital. .t will be greed Mr Atmore is doing the right liiug to |•.robe the matter deeply he- . re c mmitting the country. and this ic.ion appears to he typical >nl his methods in all phases ol education administration. Mr Atmore appears t:> be thcright man in the right place at this juncture.