EDUCATION SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1929, Page 8

EDUCATION SYSTEM

UNIFICATION OF CONTROL, REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. By vesting the control and iidininitration of education in specially elected councils the people themselves would he given the opportunity of deciding the lines on. which the educational system of the Dominion shall be run, the classes of schools that shall exist, and the aimunt of money that shall he expended. At present, owing to the many conflicting issues that arise, the many cross-currents that beset the political atmosphere, it is impossible 'for the people to directly express their views on matters appertaining to education. For this reason the administration of the educational system ol the Dominion should be removed from departmental control, and vested in the the people themselves by the system herein outlined. , This op in it) n L expressed in the report of a sub-committee recently set up by the‘Wellington Federation of Educational Association, to go into the question of unification of educational control.

“The effective control of the education system from kindergarten to secondary schools has for years been a problem that leading educationalists in the Dominion have been trying to solve,” the committee- reports. “Realising this, your executive appointed a sub-committee to go into the question, with a view to submitting a report to the federation delegates for consideration. The system under which education is controlled •requires drastic revision, therefore unification seems to he the only solution of the problem and the report herewith aft-ached is an earnest endeavour on the part of your sub-committee to remedy the weak links in our system of education. !

OBJECTS OF CONTROL. (.1.) Place kindergarten, primary, post-primary, secondary, and technical schools under one administrative body in each district; avoid present overlapping between secondary and technical schoolsteachers to he interchangeable on the basis oi a single salary scale.

“(2) Solve vocational problems now becoming so prominent as follows: (a) In the schools by remodelling certain phases of instruction ; (b) beyond the schools by surveying avenues of employment by conference and cooperation with business and farming communities. “(3) To check centralisation und t departmental control, which lias meant government by officials, and not by the people. “(I) Popularise education, arouse public interest and secure popular cooperation between parents, staffs and schools. “(5) Increase resources and improve schools, teaching equipment, giving to each school the equipment necessary for effective teaching. “(6) Secure for each governing council the best lay and expert advice on administrative control.

CONSTITUTION OF NEW GOVERNING COUNCILS. “Substitue the existing system of education boards and boards ol governors by the institution of four education councils for the Dominion. Each council to consist of 24 members, 20 of whom shall be elected triennially on the Parliamentary franchise, and four to represent the teaching profession, m a consultative capacity without voting power.

“ A readjustment of the boundaries of the existing education hoard districts may, be necessary. Provision to be made to give equal representation to urban and rural districts. “After the first three years half the council to retire (by ballot) and to be eligible for re-election, and this system of half the council retiring every three years will operate continuously. Education councils to meet monthly. One extra session to be held annually to consider future policy and requirements. Representatives of each of the four councils to meet in conference biennially. “Members of education councils to be paid such allowance as may be approved, together with all travelling expenses reasonably incurred by them in respect to their attendance at meetings “The funds of the education councils to comprise grants from the Consolidated Fund, amounts raise 1 by local rates and endowments, if any, provided that no existing endowments shall be interfered with. Education councils shall have power to levy rates (limited for any one year by Act of Parliament.)

POWER OF EDUCATION COUNCIL “The education councils shall govern the educational system, supervised by the Minister of Education. Committees elected by the householders shall conduct the affairs of the schools, the committees to he responsible for the proper upkeep of their respective schools (kindergarten, primary, post primary, second a ry-toclnuenl) and should be allowed sufficient money to carry out their duties without having to apply to the education council fm permission to undertake 1 trivial works In short the committees should be goon full power to maintain the schools according to local requirements. “1,, this connection it may be said that the rich and poor system ol education would be evolved, and that the districts with a wealthier community would have a better class of school buildings, but as the education dis-

tricts suggested cover such an area of urban and rural districts such an event could not operate. Education l councils shall have power to submit [ proposals to a referendum. “The success of the policy of unification of control rests on the powers to j be invested in the education councils Lf greater powers are not given to the councils, and by them to the commit- 1 tees, then the ideal of an effective system of education under unification falls to.the ground.” MINORITY REPORT. Whilst Mr EL. A. Parkinson lias signed and endorsed the principle of unification he is opposed to the constitution of only four councils, and reserves the right to expound his views oil the question of local control. The report is signed by Messrs. N. A. Ingram, A. Parlane, H. A Parkinson, and L. G. P Whyte