EDUCATION CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 464, 20 September 1928, Page 13

EDUCATION CONTROL

NEED FOR CLEARER POLICY STRESSED DEPARTMENT AND BOARDS (THE SUE'S Parliamentary Reporter) ; WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Departmental control and its effects on education boards were discussed in the Legislative Council to-day when the need for a clearer policy was stressed. Discussing the annual report of the Education Department the Hon. G. M. Thomson moved that in the opinion of the Council the report of the Minister of Education should give a more definite undertaking than is contained in the introductory statement that the whole question of the educational policy of the Government will be considered in the immediate future. Mr. Thomson made a protest against the attitude of the department toward education boards and other educational bodies, and said that in this respect the department was going too far altogether. As a result a spirit of antagonism and bitterness was springing up. Continuing, he discussed various phases of educational work, particularly stressing the lack of observational training in school, and the lack of cohesion between high schools and technical schools and consequent overlapping. The Hon. G. J. Garland seconded the motion, dwelling upon the over-produc-tion of professional workers and condemning the cost of education, £ls 6s a head, as excessive. An overhaul was very necessary. Sir Francis Bell defended the Minister and the department against attacks in regard to the creating of illfeeling with boards, and said that it was all the result of the old provincial system under which provincial councils were continually quarrelling with the central government about* moneys handed over to them for expenditure. The boards should make greater recognition of the department’s duty to the country as a whole. , Sir James Allen said that he hoped the Leader of the Council did not support the idea of abolishing the boards. Sir Francis Bell: "I carefully refrained from saying so.” Sir James Allen regarded the boards and school committees as necessary. The Hon. V. H. Reed differed from this view, remarking that the boards did not give sufficient return for their cost. The debate was adjourned at 4.20 and the Council rose until to-morrow.