THE MINISTER AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2306, 23 July 1921, Page 2

THE MINISTER AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

ADDRESSING the deputation front the School Commit tees’ Association which waited on him at Wellington on Thursday, the Hon. C. J. Pan’ (Minister for Education) said that he was always glad to get into touch with the school committees. He valued their expression of opinion, as tltey directly’represented the parents of the children. Their advice was always of a practical character, and worth listening to. Indeed, some education boards seemed rather to resent these Jit tic interviews between the school committees a fid himself. (Laughter.) Hut the committees had a legal standing; they had a right to come to .see the Minister, and he was always glad to meet them. Nor had he any intention of abolishing the school committees. The Minister said that lie would not he a party to any changes in the direction of nbolishing the school committees or reducing their functions or their powers. His opinion was rather in favour of adding to their functions and increasing their responsibilities. The Minister’s remarks will be appreciated by those who are actively connected with school committee work. Direct access to the Minister and Department by committees instead of per medium of Education, Boards would result in keener local interest and enthusiasm in educational affairs, more particularly in regard to environment. * The absurdity of tt committee being compelled to submit requests for .school repairs and upkeep to a body of men sitting in solemn conclave once ft, month, miles away from the spot and unfamiliar with the local requirements, for approval, and then for the said expensively administered Board —which, h.v the way, mops up about one-third of the Kdueationa! gram i’or administrative purposes—to decide whether or not it will pass I lie request on i- > the Department, must be apparent to any one with a modicum of common sense. Committeemen as a whole are just as capable and competent to administer the Education grant for maintenance as are Board members. Yet some of these Board members, or distributing agents, possess a marvellously exaggerated opinion of I heir authority, even to the extent of patronising coinmitttecs. Until Boards are abolished altogether. as we believe they will bo in the near future, local interest and enthusiasm in school environ; went will remain at a low ebb. Committees do not desire to interfere, with the vital work of education ihat can be left to exports—but it cannot be denied that they have a better local knowledge than Board members. The circumlocution and delay in dealing with Boards is a weariness of the llesh, and disheartening to committees. The Minister's sympathy with the representatives of the p.’LVents indicates tin early elimination of a useless intermediary which has long since outlived its sphere of usefulness. In Ibe Hon. M r Parr, School Commitlees have a sympathetic and practical Minister, who appreciates the good work and keen interest they lake in local conditions, and is aware of the disabilities which handicap their efforts.