The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1918 STATE SCHOOL DISABILITIES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 404, 27 August 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1918 STATE SCHOOL DISABILITIES

"We nothinQ extenuate, nor tet down auoht in malice."

A \ important eonierence of teachers, coinuu-il b\ the Auckland Headmasters' Association,

\va . lu-ld last ui rL . ] >rima ily for tin- purpose of considering the disabilities undei whiui the \roik of tile State s.dlools of New /ea land is be!iii' cat i ied on, and of formulating a ] »n't-, ra in nit- of nrgellth needed letoim-. It is evident from the published imports ot the proceedings that the teachers present had determined to take the hint dropped by the Minister of Kdueation om the occasion of a rcem visit to Auckland. MrHanan was quoted as that grave danger, threatened the present free and

secular education system through the growth of denominational schools, and that it lay with the teachers, as believers in the system, to arouse public opinion, and to bring pressure to bear upon Parliament in order that the danger might be averted. This, Mr lianan declared, could be done only by political pressure. Though disliking the necessity of political pressure, the Auckland Headmasters' Association has arrived at the conclusion that it affords the only remedy. To this end, the conference decided to commence by creating a widespread public interest in educational reform, which will be done by appealing not only to the

individual but also to large numbers of organisations that

have influence and are, or should be, interested in the improvement of the education system. Very wisely, the Auckland headmasters do not propose to overburden their plan of campaign by attempting to embrace within it a too extensive scheme of reform. The programme adopted by the meeting does not initiate new proposals, but is concerned rather with the remedying of some of the most glaring weaknesses of the existing system —such, tor instance, as the inadequate staffing of schools, necessitating the placing of classes under young and untrained beginners : overcrowded class-rooms and overlarge classes ; congested playgrouud spaces ; lack of Government depots tor the supply of school requisites ; inadequate grants to school committees, with the result that schools could not be kept as they should be ; lack of sufficient disinfection of schools and want of proper sanitation : insufficiency of shelter accommodation in school grounds : and lack ot luncheon-rooms for both children and teachers. These are evils which directly affect the children, and consequently a movement aiming at their elimination ought to command public sympathy and support.