FINDING WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 331, 17 April 1928, Page 12

FINDING WORK

GETTING THE BEST FROM EDUCATION NEW SOCIETY FORMED

To further the ends of education, in order to ensure for the student a full and useful life instead of a mere cramming of grammar and arithmetic, is the object of a newly-formed Educational Society in Auckland, which held its inaugural meeting last evening. Imperfections in our educational system insofar as they lack co-ordination between student and prospective employers, will be handled by the society. THE meeting, which was presided x over by the Hon. George Fowlds, president of the Auckland University College, was addressed by several of those interested in the project, and was informed of the limitations of education in the Dominion, with suggestions for improvement. It was explained that the society would be a public one, and not one for teachers or any other specific section of the community. It was hoped to establish channels through which boys and girls would go after they had left school. Professor H. Belshaw explained that since New Zealand purported to be a democratic country, it was legitimate and desirable that an enlightened and constructively critical body of public opinion on educational matters should be formulated and expressed when occasion demanded it. The society hoped to assist in the formulation of such a body of public opinion. It had no Intention of engaging in carping criticism of educational administration, but aimed, by investigation and discussion of educational problems, to be of some assistance, both directly and indirectly, to those who guided education policy and were responsible for Its practice. At. present the Proficiency Certificate dominated the primary school, mu ti jc u lation the secondary school, and the degree the University. The purpose of education tended to be thwarted and our educational system as a factor in social change became sterilised. He did not profess to offer a ready made medicine, but something toward a cure should be done if the disease were recognised. OFFICE STOOL V. LAND Mr. A. G. Lunn said some boys had the idea that the black coat and the office stool were better that wearing old clothes and going on to the farm. A lad leaving school would say, "Thank Heaven my school days are over; I am educated.” This spirit was wrong, and the society would do much to correct it. Mr. T. Bloodworth said the educated man lived in the golden clouds while, comparatively speaking, the uneducated man groped his way through the darkness “with the emptiness of ages in his face.” Mr. E. C. Cutten agreed upon the efficacy of the society. The following officers were elected; President, Mr. A. G. Lunn; vice-presi-dents, Professor A. P. W. Thomas, Messrs. H. P. CaugheV and A. Burns; council, Miss Sandford, Miss Johnston, Dr. Belshaw, Messrs. T. Bloodworth, E. C. Cutten, H. Cousins, F. A. Garry, H. J. D. Mahon and A. M. Seaman; secretary, Dr. E. P. Neale; hon. auditor, Mr. D. H. Steen; treasurer, Mr L. W. Holt.