UNITY SOUGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 666, 18 May 1929, Page 4

UNITY SOUGHT

NEW ZEALAND TEACHERS REVIVAL OF ASSOCIATION Steps are being taken by the Secondary Schools Association to revive the New Zealand Educational Association, which has gradually, become moribund since its formation some yeare ago. This movement has been given considerable impetus by the attitude of the Minister of Education, Who has stressed the need for unity among the teachers of the Dominion. When the association was founded, its members included university representatives. secondary school teachers, primary school teachers, and technical school teachers, but the secondary teachers are taking the initiative in the revival movement. At its conference in Wellington the Secondary Schools Association appointed as its representative on the reformed association Messrs. W. A. Armour and F. Renner (Wellington!, A. W. Short (Auckland), G. Morice (Wairarapa), Miss Clark (Christchurch). Similar interest is being taken by the technical teachers. At the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Conference in Wellington, a proposal to amalgamate all teachers’ organisations was submitted in the following resolution, moved bv Mr. H. A. Jones (Auckland): —“That the incoming executive approach the primarv school, secondary' school and universitv teachers and endeavour to formulate a scheme of amalgamation or affiliation to be submitted to all teachers in time for discussion and adoption, or otherwise. at the next annual meeting.” It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr. N. McWilliams (Welling- j ton) : “That this conference invites the N.Z.E.I. and the Secondary Schools Association to send representatives to a joint conference with our representatives to arrange: (1) To present forthwith to the Minister of Education (a) a scheme of reorganisation of postprimary education: (b) a scheme of reorganisation of the administration of post-primary education. (2) A method whereby all representations to the Minister or to the Education Department on matters relating to more than one branch of the education service shall be made jointly by representatives of the N.Z.E.1., the S.S.A., and the N.Z.T.S.T.A.. or by an organisation representing these bodies.” The following remits were accepted on the recommendation of the special committee set up to consider the subjects.:— “That the conference approves the* general principle of control of education by district councils, the districts being delineated according to suitability of area and community interests. “That where agricultural high schools are established they should be administered by an agricultural committee (representing local farming interests) under either the District Education Council or some such body. Such schools should be established adjacent to large centres.”