Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1919. EDUCATIONAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2017, 19 August 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1919. EDUCATIONAL.

THE public indignation meeting held at Palmerston last Friday to protest against the scandalous condition of the primary school buildings there, will, we-believe, bring about a -speedy remedy, and at the same time arouse public opinion to the futility of placing reliance upon the Education Board. The Educational Institute and others who have taken an intelligent interest in matters educational, have advocated.the abolition of Education Boards—a

legacy.of the old Provincial form of Government —which should ’ have ceased to exist coincident with the Provincial Councils. Local education committees, with direct access to' the Department, is what is required, and until such committees replace the Boards, local interest in school affairs will not be aroused. Education Boards are useless and costly intermediaries, which, in the interest of education generally, should be abolished at the earliest possible moment. While the Wanganui Education Board, which deals with the primary schools, cannot get satisfaction out of thd Education Department, and always appears to be at .loggerheads with both Minister and Department, the Palmerston High School Board, with direct access to the Minister and Department, seems to be able to get on amicably with both Minister and Department. This is evidenced by the fact that within three weeks after the ground had been obtained for the new Girls’ High, School, at Palmerston, plans had been passed by the Department, and within unaccepted and the building commenced.