TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1931, Page 6

TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE

RESOLUTIONS’ PASSED. (By Telegraph; —Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. The New Zealand Education Institute opened a conference yesterday. Addresses were given by the President (Mr H. F. Penlington), the Minister of Education (Mr Atmore) and Mr T. B. Strong (Director of Education). Mr Atmore spoke of the handicaps imposed by economy, and mentioned that the salary cut was unavoidable for the time being. The Institute to-day carried the following remits: That all post-primary classes and schools be staffed on mo same basis. That in view of the fact there are so many classes of over fifty pupils per teacher in primary schools, the Department be urged to reconsider its decision not to appoint additional assistants this year. That the Institute protest against the action of the Department in compelling the formation _of unsuitable classes in order to reduce classes below the requisite quota of sixty. That, in anticipation of the return of favourable financial conditions, the Institute urges the Minister to make legislative provision for giving effect to the prjncipaj recommendations of the Education Commit,tee’s report, ft. : u, particularly .hifgeiit that before any oomnjitmeut, is made, the administrative ''control' in' each area should be unified. .That .the Institute- strenuously oppose the,placing of forms ope and two children under the control of any but a primary Education Board, or completely unified primary, secondary and Technical Education Board. '[’hat the meeting opposed the piece meal introduction of the changes mentioned in the recess report, its reasons being that stated in the report itself. “No reforms have ever been accomplished without a struggle, and the committee does not expect its recommendations to meet with universal approval. What, it wishefj to make clear is that its individual recommendations arc integral parts of a complete scheme of reorganisation. They can. not be put-into effect piecemeal.

The Technical Schools’ Association Conference decided- that the Association should not take action for ends not of an educational nature. The original remit advocating, political action was lost, and the word political was deleted. In'fills -presidential address to the conference of .the-,..Technical School Teachers’ Association. Air H. A. Jones, said that from the view of national efficiency, expenditure oil ecmcaijoii was never more needed than now. It is the duty of the Government. he said, to invest for the future. There is abroad a spirit of panicky retrenchment, and dangerous suggestions for the saving of expenditure on education have been made. Whether retrenchment was needed or not could not he determined by the mere size or the bulk of expenditure. Deprivation ~of. , post-primai,-y education might?-''bring into the market a greater supply of cheap labour, hut the penalty would he paid in the future.