VISIT TO NORTH AUCKLAND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 April 1918, Page 3

VISIT TO NORTH AUCKLAND

BY MEMBERS OF THE AUCKLAND BOARD

OF EDUCATION

REPORT TO THE BOARD

ON Thursday, March 14, Messrs J. D. McKenzie (chairman), P. Brinsden, and R. C. Smith, and Mrs Baume (members of the Board) started on a visit to North Auckland to enquire into and consider the educational needs of the district, and to discuss and report upon various applications then before the Board. They were joined in Whangarei by Mr Purdie (Advisory Inspector) and by Mr Farrell (architect). The party travelled from.Auckland as far north as Kaitai'a, and returned on March 23. On the way the members visited Maungaturoto, Paparoa, Ruawai, Dargaville, Whangarei, Ohaeawai, Kaeo, Mangonui, Oruru, and Fairburn's Road. In most of these places they visited schools in the vicinity, and were interviewed by settlers and teachers. They gained much valuable information concerning special matters under consideration by the Board, and such ideas of the general needs of country districts as they hope will be helpful" in the future in proposals affecting such areas.

From members of School Committees and others connected with education in North Auckland, the members of the Board met with much courtesy, consideration, and hospitality, for which they desire to express sincere thanks.

During the journey the members of the Board were much impressed with the possibilities of the district through which they travelled, and convinced that it will ultimately become closely settled, and that in the not distant future many more schools must be established to meet the growing needs of a population that promises to increase rapidly. They were struck by the evident earnest desire of the teachers to do their best for the children under their care. They could not but realise the heavy disabilities under which both teachers and taught labour in order that the latter may receive the benefits that even, a modicum of education confers upon its recipients. While this was the case they regretted to observe that in one or two respects opportunities of inculcating a civic spirit in the young were not taken as full advantage of as in their opinion might have been done. The rooms are sometimes in a state bordering upon disorder, and in too many cases the grounds appeared to be entirely uncared for. Probably the teachers in charge have allowed themselves to ibe entirely absorbed with their indoor duties which are many and arduous. The children, too, have long distances to travel and many outdoor duties to perform at home. Yet the members of the Board believe that it is possible to get the pupils to take a pride in .their school and its surroundings. If each pupil could be impressed with the idea ''This is mine, or partly mine," he would gain immeasurably in civic spirit. He would have learned a lesson that throughout life would determine his attitude towards his civic privileges and responsibilities. The members of the Board make these observations in no spirit of criticism. They state the facts in the hope that betterment may result, and with a due recognition of the valuable services rendeied in general by the teachers of our country schools,

Another matter that impressed itself upon us was the faotthat in so large and important a district as North Auckland not a large amount of attention has been paid to the teaching of agriculture or to the introduction of facilities for such teaching, We think that attention should be given to this. It is admitted that greater difficulty exists in obtaining results from the soil of the North than from the lighter volcanic areas but the benefits that will ultimately acorue from from the scientific treatment of these huge areas will be infinitely greater than those to be obtained from the relatively smaller volcanic belts. An agricultural Farm of Instruction, similar to that at Kuakura, might well, it seems to us, be recommended to the Department for establishment.