REFORM OF SCHOOL CONTROL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2006, 24 July 1919, Page 2

REFORM OF SCHOOL CONTROL.

WHILE disapproving of the proposal of.' I lie New Zealand Educational Institute regarding Ilia establishment of a National Board of .Education, tin:* Palmerston Tim os is strongly of opinion ilia! tho suggeslion to abolish scliool ooinmilloos and oduoalion boards is worthy of the most sorions consideration of everyone who has at 'heart tho welfare of our system of national eduealion and the best interests of our young' people. The reason for (he lamentable lack of interest in educational affairs is not far to seek. The funds at the command of school committees are so limited that they llml it difficult, in some eases impossible, to pay the salary of the caretaker, the cost of fuel, and the annual bill for school stationery. Their duties amount to little more than passing’ a few accounts. How can it be expected that men and women will sacrifice their time in attending meetings for tho purpose of carrying' out duties of so trivial a nature 1 And as for education boards, during the past 20 years they have been shorn of most of their authority, and have become little more than distributing agencies. Boards now have no control over the staffing of schools, the salaries of teachers, nor (if they carried out the intention of the Act) over the appointment, of teachers. While in the past they may have served a useful purpose, they seem to have passed I heir period of usefulness; and they and school committees will, we feel sure, sooner or later have to give (dace to other educational authorities that will more efficiently administer our system of national education. The .new local bodies might take (tie form of school boards having jurisdiction over a group of schools. The county might be taken as the unit. Boroughs and town districts within the county would in many cases constitute a school district. Other electoral areas could be arranged. These local authorities should have control of all State primary, technical, and secondary schools within their district. They .would probably have twice the amount to spend on each school that the present school committees have. Their duties would be much more important. It would bo worth while devoting lime and energy to educational work. *