A Stratford Protest,

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 77, 22 July 1914, Page 5

A Stratford Protest,

THE EDUCATION DISTRICT. ■ ■—■■■■ —Mi> PROPOSED ELIMINATION. The proposal to do away with the Taranaki education district came beforo th« (School Committee at its meeting last night. REPORT BY INSPECTORS. The following report by the Inspectors, submitted to the Board, was forwarded for the Committee’s consideration : As there is a probability that the question of reducing the number el Education Boards will be seriously considered this year by Parliament, we should like to place before the Board for its information 'he following facts bearing on the matter: The Commission on Education set up in 1912 recommended that the number of Education Boards lie reduced to five. This recommen la:hn, however, has not been favorably received. During last session of Parliament the Education Committee of the House suggested in its report that the number of Boards should be reduced to eight or nine. The consensus of opinion of those who have studied question is that there should be nine Boards in preference to eight—four for the South Island and five for the North. In the South Island on th" school rolls at the end of 1912 there were roughly 72,000 chi'-lren, while the corresponding number in the North Island for the same year was 96,000. If the South Island were divided into four Education Boards each Board would have under its control 18,000 children, and if North Island were divided into five education districts each Board would have control of 19,000 —roughly the same number. Another point in favor of this division is that a more equable allotment in the number of schools would follow than if there were eight Boards. For 1912 th© total number of schools in the South Island was in round numbers 1000, and in the North Island 1200. If the Dominion were divided into nine Boards as suggested, there would accordingly be 250 schools in each district. Again, by the adoption of nine Boards the promotion areas could be more equitably adjusted as far as promotion to the larger schools was concerned. In the South Island there was a total of 51 schools in grade VIII. and upwards: that would mean twelve of these schools to each of the four districts. In th© North Island the number of such schools was 61—that is twelve to each of the five districts. A more important factor, however, to be £aken into consideration when determining areas of promotion ig to arrange matters so that each district may have about the same number of what may be termed “backbone” schools, that is schools that offer a fair salary and wlTich the majority of teachers may reasonably look forward to for promotion. The schools we refer to are those in grade TV. to grade VTI. inclusive. In the South Island there were 335 of these schools, that is roughly 84 to each of the proposed four districts, whilst in the North Island there were 424—85 to each of the proposed five districts. We are submitting maps to give some indication how the North Island may he more equably divided into five districts than it is at present. The divisioin is based on the population given for each county in the 1911 census. In the Auckland district, as shown on the map submitted, there would be a total population of 179,672, in the Wellington district 126,140, in the Wanganui district 88,369; in the Hawke’s Bay district 81,616, and in the Taranaki district 81,784. It may seem strange that the Wellington and Auckland districts have been allotted considerably moro than the other districts, but it must be borne in mind that this is unavoidable as these districts include the cities of Wellington and Auckland respectively. A difficulty that will he felt in mapping out the education districts will be to provide for the adequate administration of the large scattered backblock area around Lake Taupo. This district, by our division, is fairly well catered for by three Boards—Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui. An examination of the map will show that the means of communication by railway, coach, etc., have been given due considera-

tion. We would prefer to have made the division on the school population and on the number and grade of thoi schools in each county, but though we! have applied to the Education and other Departments we have not been able to get the desired information as it is not at present available. We feel that this matter is of so much importance to our district that we would respectfully ask the Board to place the matter before the Minister for Education when he visits New Plymouth this week. A MEETING OF PROTEST. The Chairman said the question was one which would vitally affect Taranaki. New Plymouth had already held a meeting to protest against the elimination of the Board and he thought Stratford should follow this example. There was one phase which had not been mentioned. Twelve years ago Taranaki was hardly known as an education district—there had been nothing done to bring the district prominently before the people of the country. At that time Mr Spencer, a iivst-class man, came on the scene. Since then education had

goue ahead, and in competition with the whole of the country Taranaki had held its own, and in fact sometimes Taranaki pupils had headed th» list for the whole colony. He mored that the Mayor be requested to call a public meeting to consider the matter. Mr Smart seconded. , He thought Startford should support the rest of Taranaki. They should not stand down in favor of Wanganui. Stratford should do everything possible to preserve Taranaki’s rights. Mr Jackson: What is the object in wiping out the district? The Chairman: It is proposed to reduce the number of Boards. Mr Jackson: What do they expect to gain by it? The Chairman: It does not seem very clear. Mr McMillan supported the motion. He moved that the chairman, secretary and Mr Smart be a committee to co-operate with Mr R. Masters in getting information to submit to th® meeting. Mr Jackson said the education districts should bo kept small to ensure proper control. If the district was made big they would have to wait too long before requests were attended to by the Board. Mr Smart: It is long enough now.

Mr Jackson said Taranaki would be the tail-end of the district, and would only have one member on the Board, a result of which would be that Taranaki would not get the attention it deserved. The Chairman said it was proposed to hold the meeting on Friday if possible. The motions were carried.