EDUCATION SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1929, Page 2

EDUCATION SYSTEM

DEFENDED BY DIRECTOR, WELLINGTON, June 12. The Director of Education, Air T. B. Strong, speaking at the meeting of the Council of Education to-day, said it was all nonsense to say our education system was so bad that it should he completely recast. The education system was a sound one, but it certainly could be improved, and it was being improved. Progress, he said, was being made in the consolidation of small schools. The Department was carrying out its policy of reducing the size of classes by the appointment of additional assistants and by remodelling schools where the rooms were at present not suited for the splitting up of classes. He did not hope for any rapid improvement unless more money was available. The most effective way to reduce the size of classes would be to provide ample accommodation, by removing standards five and six to a central school. That would also help to absorb unemployed teachers. There should be no unemployed teachers after this year. The work of establishing classes for the education of mentally deficient, but educatable children had progressed, there being now twenty-six classes with two supervisors. The Department also intended to bring special schools, for the deaf and for recalcitrant and mentally deficient children more directly under the control of the inspectors. tie favoured increasing technical instruction and agricultural classes, and favoured the plot system.