EDUCATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 201, 26 July 1937, Page 2

EDUCATION

REVIEW OF CONFERENCE. ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS. Comment that the New Education Fellowship regional conference held in Wellington had been refreshing, had brought home to teachers a sense of the heavy responsibility which they carried, and had been of great assistance to all engaged in education, was passed by Mr J. Murray,, rector of the Palmerston North Boys High School, when he outlined to the Palmerston North Rotary, Club, at its weekly luncheon to-day, the programme which had been followed at the conference. He said that New Zealand awaited a new Education Bill, and the knowledge acquired would facilitate its administration when it wa.-; enacted.

Arrangements for the conference had been commenced some eighteen months ago by a national committee, said Mr Murray, who added that the New Education Fellowship came into existence in Europe in 1915, and its objective was to awaken a consciousness to the value of education. It emphasised value especially, helped educators to understand the social attitude of different countries, and served as a laboratory for the exchange and development of ideas. Sixteen hundred teachers had attended the conference, proceeded Mr Murray. Outlining the nature of the seminars, lie said the summing upi on the controversial subject of religion in schools was that it had to be supported by the sincerity of the teacher and the goodwill of the community. The possibilities of mechanical aids to education had been demonstrated in another lecture. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) had attended most of the sessions.

Factors which had been emphasised on the administrative side were the ability to overcome another’s inefficiency without losing his goodwill, and the ability to make a teacher feel that he occupied a very real place. Another feature to which attention had been paid had been leadership for youth, and the movement to bring it more closely in touch with Nature. Education for industry and life, in the very widest sense, and not within a specially selected compass, had been another subject. Sociological aspects had been dealt with very fully in the lectures, the cycles of freedom, security and affection in the child’s life being described.

Mr A. A. Langley, who presided, voiced the club’s appreciation of Mr Murray’s address.