STRATFORD SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1915, Page 4

STRATFORD SCHOOLS.

new men school wanted. DI-ITTATION' TO MINISTER I'OH EDUCATION. PKIMAUV EDUCATION" COMES I-iRST. One of Cue most important features of the visit of the Minister for Education (the Hon. J. A. Hunan), to Stratford yesterday, was provided in Hie evening, when a deputation from the Stratford District High School Committee wr.ited on hiiu, and asked foV the disestab.ishnient of the District High School in order that n new High School could be established. Before the deputation was received a welcome to the Minister was given by the Mayor (Mr. J. YV. Boon), and Mr. J. B. liine, member for the district. Tn outlining the desires of the d-jjii-tation. Mr. !!. Masters -aid cv?/,-.e n e recognised that primary cdiK-aJo;i in New- Zealand was the tirst matter, for unless they got primary education there would be no. need for secondary education. In the secondary department of (he District High School there were ibO pupils, and the headmaster, fully expected thai there would be i 0() on the roll next year. The .school was at present overorowded The Department had laid down a rule that no school should eontain more than 000 children and in all departments of this, school there were many more than that. If a new High School was not provided an additional primary school would be necessary. They recognised that at a time like the present it would not be reasonable to ask the (lovernment for £IO,OOO to build a High School, but they asked that a site should be purchased. If this were not done now it would be more diflk'iilt and more costly to get a suitable site in the future.

Mr. P. Skoglmul and others also spoke. The Minister, in reply, expressed his thanks for the hearty welcome to Stratford. He hoped that people would look upon education as a national question, and not as a parochial one. A general scheme of education which would apply to the whole Dominion was necessary, and it would be necessary to put in operation something to cover every separate educational district. The country had to become an educated democracy, and the boys and girls of the Dominion would have to be educated in the best way to lit them for the battle of life. In regard to the request for a new school, he realised that the present school was largely attended and this was no doubt due in a good measure to the headmaster, Mr. Tyrer. lie understood, however, that Mr. Tyrer would shortly be retiring, and it was questionable whether, after Mr. Tyrer had gone, the large' attendance would be maintained. One speaker, he said, had advocated greater taxation to ensure adequate education, but while it was easy to talk of increasing taxation it was very hard to cany it out. The amount of money which he (Mr. Ilanan) had at his disposal was very limited, and he thought no Minister for Education had ever had his path beset with greater difficulties in this respect. Xo rightthinking person would expect him to spend a large amount of money on education now, and if the people of New Zealand were asked they would sav that at the present time it was not policy to build a High School while a large number of primary schools were wanted, and while many primary schools wanted extensions urgently. To do so would be.' a very wrong policy for him to adopt. There could not be two opinions as to whether primary or secondary education had to come first, and while hundreds of children required primary education it was the duty of the Government to see that these needs were catered for before those of children who luitl already had a primary education. Continuing, the Minister a-ilced wfluU a High School be of more benefit to the people of the district than a s.hool of the kind which would equip boys to become successful farmers? Mr. Masters: That can be done at the High School. The Minister said he would give the question full consideration. Tf lie asked Cabinet now for the money that was * wanted his recommendations would not be adopted, for it was not right that at a time like the present money should be given for secondary education and denied to primary education. He had every sympathy with the deputation, and he would take an early opportunity to ao quaint Cabinet of the position.