EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 413, 21 April 1937, Page 3

EDUCATION BILL.

POSITION OF BOARDS. Drastic Changes Likely. Temperate approval of the Atmore Report wae manifest in an address by Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P., to the Canterbury School Committees’ Association,, states the Christchurch Star-Sun. There had been, he said, i no sweeping alterations in education I in New Zealand since 1914. The | Atmore Report, formulated in 1930, | was highly regarded by a number of I educational authorities. Mr Mccombs said 'that he disagreed with several of the recommendations'. “An Education Bill will be draw'll tip,” said Mr McCombs. “It. will be submitted to various organisations tor comment. "There is. nothing particularly wrong with our primary schools,” said Mr McCombs, "but something will probably be done with the education boards. In the Auckland Province one-third of the school population of New Zealand is centred. All these children are under 'the jurUdieion of one board. "Again, the Canterbury educational district covers one-third of the South Island, and it can only bei mere chance if members of the board know anything about the outlying schools Canterbury will probably be split up into North Canterbury, South Canter bury and West Coast districts. “There is a great d .al of unnecessary duplication between the educaion board and the Education Department in paying salaries. Economies can br. effected, and it is probable that ultimately there will be a hundred fewer jobs for clerks'. However, hese can be absorbed into the Civil Service. In addition ive alm to have fewer staff changes during the year. Agricultural Bias. "Now I come to 'the great agrieuliiral bias,” continued the speaker. ‘I am quite agreeable lor improvements to be made in the agricultural tide of school work, but it must be remembered that farmers are not the ?nly people in New Zealand.” Mr McCombs here quoted figures .0 show that whereas the number of boys leaving schools to go on farms was decreasing, the number of boys entering trade, commerce, and the professions was increasing. “Our schools do not train pupils for their pursuits' in after life. The only place where I have seen culture taught in schools was in a girls’ third-year domestic class, which had finished with examinations.” Mr McCombs considered that for country areas intermediate schools teemed to be admirable. Mr McCombs stated that 'the State, in name as well as in practice, would administer education. As for Native schools, there was no suggestion of a change. The Education Department , idministered these schools 'Without :he help of boards, and the cost was I approximately one-half of that for I irdinary schools'.