EDUCATION POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1929, Page 2

EDUCATION POLICY

SELECT COMMITTEE SET UP. ~ WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. Speaking at the Technical School Conference to-da.y, the Minister for Education (the Hon Mr Atmore), in reference to remarks about delay in connection with the new educational policy, said a Select Committee had been set up, and in the near future educational representatives would be heard before it. v He denied that there had been undue delay. The Technical School teachers in May had made recommendations much along-the .lines he had been referring to. He stressed the importance of technical training, which was necessary v in any complete system of education.. It did not matter wiiei<\a man was going to be a lawyer or a minister of religion, he. should have his hapd and eye trained. The sooner people looked upon technical education, the better it would be-for New Zealand. Education in the past had not been sufficiently practical. He would like to see such schools as the agricultural schools at Feilding and Rangiora multiplied. He assured them that whatever changes were made, the delegates could rely that nothing would be brought into being that would undermine the. work of' the technical school teachers and managers. He stressed the need for unification in all matters pertaining to education but said his remarks must not be taken as an attack on the Board system, in which he believed..

Referring to buildings, the Minister said recently he had his plans rejected for technical schools, because they appeared more like Trentham hutments or a factory. He did want aignified appearances for the training places of the citizens of New Zealand, That would not mean, in many cases, a tremendous addition to the costs.

. “I am not prepared to allow buildings to be put up in my term that ivill be a disgrace to New Zealand and to the importance people attach to education to-day.”-