Advertising Unwanted by Education Board

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 735, 7 August 1929, Page 9

Advertising Unwanted by Education Board

THE “OIL SCHOLARSHIPS” EXPLOITATION FEARED “Oil scholarships” are not wanted by the Auckland Education Board, which fears exploitation of school children. Additional discussion by the board this morning on the scholarship proposition advanced by an oil company involved the important principle of advertising in schools. 'J'HE upshot was that the board gave it as its policy that advertising in schools should not be tolerated.

The company's proposal was an annual scholarship for an essay competition after pupils had seen a film and heard a lecture on the petroleum industry. As far as Auckland was concerned under the plan, £25 each would go annually to a boy and a girl. There were also two other scholarships of £l2 10s each.

The conditions of the scheme were recently approved by the Education Department, but the onus of acceptance w'as left to education boards. CANTERBURY ACCEPTS

The Canterbury Education Board wrote stating that it had accepted the scheme, but it was not “enamoured of exploitation.” The Wellington board said that it had deferred consideration. It was opposed to all forms of advertising in schools and its secretary was conferring with the Headmasters’ Association. The Otago board has yet to discuss the scheme. Some opposition was raised to the hearing of the representative of the oil firm iu stating his case to the board, but Mr. A. Burns, the chairman, pointed out that he had invited the representative to state details to the board. The company’s claims were heard in committee, one member fearing that the board-room would be used for advertisement. Mr. F. A. Snell then moved that the company’s scheme should be declined.

Mr. T. TJ. Wells strongly opposed advertising in schools. If the scheme was accepted, other firms would have to be allowed privileges, he said. The principle of giving £25 as a scholarship, he said, was out of proportion. He doubted, indeed, the wisdom of offering prizes in any school competition.