EDUCATING CHILDREN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4430, 21 June 1922, Page 1

EDUCATING CHILDREN.

ECONOMIES IN VIEW. The problem of education has now developed into one of the most difficult the New South Wales Government is called upon to settle. The facilities for primary education are insufficient; acute congestion exists in numerous schools; new schools are urgently needed in parts of the State ; and many ofj the schools now in existence are old and quite unsuited to the purposes to which they are being put. In 1915 the cost of educaI tion in round figures totalled £1,689,000, and for the year 1921 it was £3,650,000 —an increase of practically £2,000,000. For the ye,ar just closing the sun* of £500,000 was voted for new schools, yet, abcording to the official estimates, a minimum of £1,300,000 is. now .necessary to enable the requirements of the community to be met. Of the matters which will be considered; -by the. subicommittee of the Cabinet will be the question of free bursariesi The cost of bursaries to the State is £60,000 a year, and is increasing rapidly. Whether it is because of. the higher educational qualifications of the children or not is not known, but i,t is felt that these are now won too easily, and .the result has been that overcrowding is threatened to many professions, and students are finding that after many years’ training and studying they have succeeded in equipping themselves for a profession in which, owing to overcrowding, they are unable to earn their living. Another matter which will oe dealt with is that of the cost of carrying children by railways to school. This practice was commenced by the Labour Government some years ago, and the expense entailed thereby has risen from £2OO to £40,000. The Cabinet decided to curtail the facilities, and in future only children attending public schools will be entitled to free passes. With regard to the position generally, .the Government, it is emphasised by Ministers, is in favour of l granting the widest facilities for primary education, and is desirous that full opportunity should be given by the provision of sufficient funds to enable every child .to obtain a free schooling. The policy in regard to secondary education will be guided largely by the financial position, and in this way the deliberations of the sub-committee are expec,ted to have a considerable effect. Whatever happens, however, it c.an be said that the Government has no intention of curtailing .those facilities considered essential for the education of children j generally. If; action is taken it will, i.t is believed, be merely to prevent I these facilities being abused. That

is to say, to limit the free? education of those able to pay fcr it. after the primary stage.