Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1920. TO FOXTON HOUSEHOLDERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2116, 17 April 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1920. TO FOXTON HOUSEHOLDERS.

IT is to he Imped that local householders will evince an interest in educational matters by turning up in large numbers at the annual meeting to bo hold on Monday evening for the purpose of electing a School Committee for the ensuing twelve months. Last year there was a record attendance, but we regret to state that (he great majority were more concerned with incidents connected with the piano fiasco than the educational welfare of the child* mi. The tactics and illegalities perpetrated at that meeting were a disgrace (o those responsible, and heaped ridicule upon the intelligence of the community. Let us see to it that such happenings will not be permitted in the future.

NEVER in the history 'of this Dominion was the time so ripe for educational reform as at present,'- and these reforms can only he brought about by the public taking an active and intelligent interest in the welfare of their schools by electing men to the Comanittees who refuse to ha told that their duties begin and end with the cleaning of the school premises and attending to the sanitary arrangements. The candidate who accepts such limitation of his duties and privileges is not wanted, IVe require men on our committees with wider vision—men of enthusiasm who put the welfare of the child FIRST.

LET’ us look at our objective and the work ahead. FirM, realise that the child is the Stale’s most valued asset —God’s richest- gift. The child’s school life is the most im-

pressiouable period of it'; existence, ■wherein- the foundation is laid for its future destiny. Therefore the environment must he attractive and in accordance with the laws of hygiene. The little bodies must be examined periodically by medical men for physical defects, with compulsory remedial treatment, free to those whose parents are not in a position to pay. A good environment and healthy bodies must be the primary essential factors of school life.

SECONDLY, teachers. At present we get what we pay for in the main, and in many eases the best teachers are shockingly underpaid and dissatisfied. The teaching profession should be elevated to a much higher plane, and bo controlled by a National Board of Experts. No teacher should be employed until he or she has passed the qualification for entrance "to the profession, and the minimum salary should be not less than £250. By this means students would be attracted to Education, and, the unlit culled out.

EDUCATION Boards should be wiped out, as they are a useless and expensive exercsenee, and wider powers given to grouped Committees familiar with local requirements.

WHERE is the money to come from? What an absurd question. If wc can conscript wealth and- life for the. destruction of life, we can with greater Justice conscript wealth to promote and develop a higher type of manhood and womanhood, whereby the children of Ihe poor shall have equal privileges and opportunities with the children of the wealthy. Money for educational purposes is the first essential of the Slate.

THESE points, without elaboration, are what we desire every householder (o think about when he attends the meeting of householders on Monday night, to (he exclusion of childish prejudice. We desire men of enthusiasm to assist the School Committees Association and Educational Institute to bring about these vital reforms.. Let each do his or her duty in selecting the best candidates offering.