FEAR OF PRUNING KNIFE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 144, 8 September 1927, Page 1

FEAR OF PRUNING KNIFE

EDUCATIONAL ECONOMIES TEACHERS’ GRIEVANCES “Classes are still too large, buildings are inadequate, committee grants are too small, grants to boards for upkeep are insufficient, and subsidy grants are too limited." This summary of the grievances of | the Auckland branch of the New Zea- : land Educational Institute contained i in the annual report was adopted at the annual meeting to-day. It was stated that the Government’s policy of economy in education is bringing about results that a.re causing the institute grave concern. Petty economb j that amount to pin-pricking are rife, which, if persisted in, will cause sufficient dissatisfaction among teachers to affect the efficiency of the education system.” “We are hoping that the nation will see that such economies are false economies and thai: the public opinion will cause the cessation of so disastrous a policy." The rigid interpretation of regulations governing travelling allowances to training college students and allowances to married teachers were set down as examples of ‘‘petty economies that do more harm than good.” It had been stated, said Mr. A. J. C. Hall, that the education vote was too great and the Minister intended to cut out the frills. ‘‘We should do our best to prevent a too vigorous use of the pruning knife,” he said. It was decided to send a copy of the report to the central executive for transmission to the department.