The Thames Star. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1911. EDITORIAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 10350, 25 April 1911, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1911. EDITORIAL.

-■■ m — SCHOOL COMMITTEES. AND THEIR FUNCTIONS. TIDE ANNUAL FAiRCE.

The annual meetings of householders of the various., school districts were hold last night and a number of residents were eledtodi to attend to the busincssl of the school for the ensuing yeai*. The small attendances evidently show that the largo majoriby of householders are quite! content at the manner in which the school affairs a«3 looked after and that they have confidence in the eapnteity of those whose services arc placed; at their disposal. This is very satisfactory and flattering: to the members;, but we tliink; that they would bb better pleased if hmisehulderis t-ooik more active interest in matters pertaining! to the oducation of the young 1, and in tho business, such as it is, connected with the various school districts'. For one thingl, if large and representative gatheringa w^e held, they could Ixs told how year by year the powers of school committees are being gradually abßorbed by the Hoard's of Education to tho disadvantage, ' m almost every instance, of what may be twined the country schools. By those we mean tho a.i-lii:<ils outsiutj tho city and nuLuriban ami of Auckland. The desparity between tht< systems of administration a:> applied ti> tlio i.-ity and eountiy schools i"c»i«oetivt;ly, is so marked that we woiuKt public attention has not 'l>ecai diiVv.tiy', to 1 it l>o I'ore this, and a strong protest made by those who ;:ro uitrnstfd with iiu lTiipunsibility til' wu-iching and protecting tin- interests of teachers, paiciits and pupils. Under present traditions school committee work

ibbrdlors on the farcical. Nine men soft round a table ealcih month to. pass, a few accounts. Any matter of moment, of interest tb the school area, or likely to preivto toiieficial to the oliiklren after being discussed has to bei humbly forwardted to thei Bbardi of EjduOation—elected; he> it remembered by the members of School Committees —.where it is usAially trteated with scant coairtesy. Tliara is more redtapcism in connection with the Education Department than in any oth&i 1 branch of the pivblio service—except perhaps the -Native Land administration, which is anaithema! Country sohool diatiicts ai'ei supposed tc have special representation on the Education Board, 'but beiyondi a lot of vag.ua and visionary promises usually made iby.members immediately prior to the election, nothing -aver materialises. It isi time that the farce was emded and that tlie country steihnol districts coinibined to have full jusifcioe done to their requirements, many of which a-rei of an urgent nature. We ho-pe that this important matter will not bo lost sight of during the ensuing yeai' and that some practical steps' will ba talken so as to bring-about this/ much-needed rtefortn.