N. Z. E. L.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 March 1918, Page 4

N. Z. E. L.

raupehE branch

A committee meeting was hold last Saturday in the Taihape D_ H. School, to consider what part the Euapehu Branch should take in the campaign recently initiated to press upon the Government the imperative necessity for greater attention to national education, Mr. J. Thurston presided. A circular was received from the N Z.E.I, expressing the aims of the Institute clearly and forcibly as follows:

"The ability of our country to maintain its position as a nation among nations depends on the character and efficiency, civic as well as industrial, of its people. Efficiency depends on education. The demands made upon the individual alike by civic responsibilities and industrial organsation and competition become greater year by year; but there has not been a corresponding addition to the educational equipment necessary to the meeting of these demands. Education means much more today than it did in even the near past. We know that to learn well the child, and to work well the adult must be in good health, and be placed in healthful surroundings; that to perform his civi» duties well the citizen miisi be well taught; and that to perform his Indusrial task well the worker must; bo well trained. Social stability ' and national prosperity depend equally oil both To the end that these conditions . iV. ,■. ' . c f C V may be met the New Zealand Educa-' tional Insfctute invites the co-opera-tion of all social organisations in the Dominion that are concerned-with any of the varied aspects of education!' work and progress in pressing upon the National Government the paramount necessity of making bettor provision for the education of the nation's future citizens, the preservation of the health of the nation’s children, and the training of' the nation’s youthful workers. The civic education that is to resist the forces of internal disruption and to secure the bringing out of the best intelligence of the people for the service of the community, and the technical training that is to enable our people to hold their own in the fierce competition that will arise in the near future cannot bo left till "after the war." It is in "the brains and bodies of the people” that the real wealth of the nation consists; and education means the training and using of the brains and developing of the bodies. It is on those grounds that, the Institute solicits assistance in moving the Government to strengthen the education system in some of its weakest parts. ”

It was decided to ask Messrs. E W Smith. M.P_, and E. Newman, M,P, to do their utmost when the matter is brought before Parliament. The features needing special attention are the housing of children and the size of classes In the past, the best available sites for schoos have not always been chosen', and to-day purficuarly in town schools the playground environment ?s often wretched. Teachers again have frequently to control classes of CO and 70 children, where a maximum of 40 shoud bo substituted. The inspection of children by doctors and dentists should be pushed further and where defects are noted the government should provide treatment for those parents arc unable to meet the expense involved

The Brandi decided to solicit the e.id of the local press, and of public bodies. The tradesmen’s Association, the Blanket Society and the Borough Council are to be urged to take their part in placing vital needs before the Minister of Education and members of Parliament.