EDUCATIONAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2145, 29 June 1920, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL.

Air D. 'A. Low, headmaster of College Street School, Palmerston Xovlh, speaking as one <>!' a deputelion of teachers which waited upon iUr J. A. Nash, M. I‘, at Palmerston yesterday, referred to the qnesiion of administration. Mr Low said Unit Lie Educational Institute wished a National Education Board and local committees. There seemed, he said, to he some misapprehension as to the constitution of a National Board, which to many >eemed to he centralisation, 'fids was not so, as centralisation meant: control hy paid oJlicials, whereas the suggested hoard would he elected, and would he responsible to their constituents, “We are supposed to have a national system, but in reality wo have nine systems, controlled by as many hoards,” said Mr Lav. The want ■ of co-ordination between the University. secondary and primary schools, was also a source of weakness which would disappear under unite of control. It was suggested that the educational policy and control should he under the National Board, while purely administrative functions now carried out by the ednealion boards could be earned out more expeditiously and economically by local committees, who. of course, would, have largely extended powers over those now possessed. Tt was pointed out that Lye present hoards had gradually been deprived of most of their functions until now they were little more than “glorified school committees." Payment of teachers, control of budding funds, and other functions, were cited as having passed from the boards to the Department. The present system was also a costly one. As evidence of this it was stated that three-fourths of Lie general fund —-the only fund which hoards can control —was swallowed up in staff salaries, office, and incidental expenses. With regard to local control the present position was farcical when the matter of putting up a new gate or fitting a lire grate had to he referred from the school committee to the Education Board. Air Nash expressed entire sympathy with the general tone of the teachers' remarks, especially in regard to the present system of Boards, and promised to give his support in the House to any measure towards the betterment of teachers' conditions.