Fix this text
Education
Fix this textJournal of The New South Wales Teacher' Federotion
Fix this textRegistered at the G.P.O. Sydney for transmission by post as a periodical.
Fix this textVo'- 48 < N °- 10
Fix this textJUNE 14, 1967
Fix this textPrice: Three Cents
Fix this text1967 SURVEY OF PRIMARY
Fix this textSCHOOLS
Fix this textThe Survey was conducted as usual during Term I,
Fix this textand information was gathered from oyer 1000 First, Second
Fix this textand Third Class Primary schools involving a total of
Fix this text210,300 pupils in 6210 classes.
Fix this textThe analysis of the information gathered from the
Fix this textSurvey shows certain encouraging as well as depressing
Fix this texttrends.
Fix this textSome schools are well
Fix this textequipped and well staffed,
Fix this textand it would be no exaggeration
Fix this textto say that in such schools the
Fix this textstandard of education received
Fix this textby the pupils would rank high
Fix this textwhen compared with that given
Fix this textto their children by other ad-
Fix this textvanced nations.
Fix this textThe people of New South
Fix this textWales could indeed be en-
Fix this textcouraged to take far more pride
Fix this textthan they do in the education
Fix this textoffered to their children in
Fix this textmany of the primary schools in
Fix this textthis State.
Fix this textHowever, weaknesses exist in
Fix this texttoo many areas and these weak-
Fix this textnesses must not be ignored.
Fix this textThe Survey revealed that there
Fix this textare still too many schools with
Fix this textover-large classes, inadequate
Fix this textaccommodation, insufficient or
Fix this textunsatisfactory equipment.
Fix this textThe high standard of educa-
Fix this texttion received by the pupils in
Fix this textsuch schools can only be re-
Fix this textgarded as a tribute to the unre-
Fix this textmitting efforts of their teachers.
Fix this textOver-largt Classes
Fix this textThe problem .ff large classes
Fix this textcannot be separated from the
Fix this textwhole question of the shortage
Fix this textof teachers. It is necessary, also,
Fix this textto have a means of comparison
Fix this textand for this reason Federation
Fix this texthas over the years, developed
Fix this texta constantly decreasing TAR-
Fix this textGET FIGURE at which to aim
Fix this textduring the course of a particu-
Fix this textlar year. For 1967 the target
Fix this textstates that no class in a primary
Fix this textschool should exceed 37, while
Fix this textno composite class should ex-
Fix this textceed 30. These figures are far
Fix this textfrom optimistic when it is con-
Fix this textsidered that world-wide educa-
Fix this texttional opinion would regard any
Fix this textclass of over 30, or any com-
Fix this textposite class of over 20, as far
Fix this texttoo large for true educational
Fix this textpurposes.
Fix this textThe full analysis of the
Fix this textfigures obtained from the Sur-
Fix this textvey appears in the Survey book-
Fix this textlet that has been sent to all
Fix this textprimary schools. All that need
Fix this textbe stressed here is how much
Fix this texthas still to be done in N.S.W.
Fix this textto achieve target class sizes.
Fix this textComparison with
Fix this textPrevious Years
Fix this textSome progress has been made
Fix this textin the class size situation, al-
Fix this textthough there has also been sharp
Fix this textdeterioration in certain areas.
Fix this textTable 1 gives some idea of the
Fix this textproblem areas:
Fix this text• There has been an improve-
Fix this textment in the position in 3rd
Fix this textClass schools in that there is
Fix this textan increased percentage of
Fix this textclasses in the 30 and under
Fix this textgroup.
Fix this text• The improvement seen last
Fix this textyear in the 3rd Class schools
Fix this textof a lessening in the number
Fix this textof classes over 33, has un-
Fix this textfortunately been lost. How-
Fix this textever, while there has been
Fix this textno improvement in the 40
Fix this textand over situation, at least
Fix this textthe position has remained
Fix this textthe same for Term I. Indi-
Fix this textcations are however, that
Fix this textTerm II could see a definite
Fix this textdeterioration of the situation
Fix this textin Class 3 schools because of
Fix this textthe increased enrolments ex-
Fix this textpected then at both kinder-
Fix this textgarten and Ist grade levels.
Fix this text• The position in Class 1 and
Fix this text2 schools shows a definite
Fix this textdeterioration in the situation.
Fix this textThere is a slight increase of
Fix this textthe number of classes over
Fix this text40, a marked increase in the
Fix this textnumber of classes over 35,
Fix this textand a decrease in the num-
Fix this textber of classes under 30.
Fix this text• While the percentage of
Fix this textthose classes over 40 may
Fix this textseem small, it is worth re-
Fix this textmembering that in the 3rd
Fix this textclass schools 5% represents
Fix this textin this Survey, 2,178 children,
Fix this textwhile in Ist and 2nd class
Fix this textschools, the 15.5% of classes
Fix this textcontain 33,413 children.
Fix this textPrimary Class Sizes
Fix this textand Federation
Fix this textTargets
Fix this textWhile the situation as regards
Fix this textclass sizes shows certain deterior-
Fix this textating trends as well as certain
Fix this textFourth class schools were not included in this survey since their problems are of a special nature. The
Fix this textconditions prevailing in larger schools must, however, influence those in the small schools of the state.
Fix this textEighty-three per cent of 1st, 2nd and 3rd class primary schools answered the Federation’s survey questionnaire.
Fix this textimprovements, the task of
Fix this textachieving Federation’s target
Fix this textfigures is far from impossible.
Fix this textFIRST AND SECOND CLASS
Fix this textSCHOOLS
Fix this text• To reduce all graded classes
Fix this textin the Survey to a maximum
Fix this textof 37 would require an addi-
Fix this texttional 143 teachers.
Fix this text• To reduce all composite
Fix this textclasses in the Survey to a
Fix this textmaximum of 30 would re-
Fix this textquire an additional 30 teach-
Fix this texters.
Fix this textTHIRD CLASS SCHOOLS
Fix this text• To reduce all composite
Fix this textclasses in the Survey to a
Fix this textmaximum of 30 would re-
Fix this textquire an additional 83
Fix this textteachers.
Fix this textEven allowing for discrep-
Fix this textancies in school sizes and
Fix this textother problems that would
Fix this textarise inevitably in a large-scale
Fix this textre-organization, the employ-
Fix this textment of 350 extra teachers on
Fix this texta State-wide scale would be
Fix this textsufficient to reduce all primary
Fix this textschool classes to within the
Fix this textrange of Federation target fig-
Fix this textures.
Fix this textClassroom Shortages
Fix this textIn Ist and 2nd Class schools
Fix this textthe main classroom shortage
Fix this textproblem reported is that
Fix this textarising from out-moded school
Fix this textbuildings. Subjects such as Art,
Fix this textcraft, manual arts and needle-
Fix this textwork are often mentioned as
Fix this textbeing poorly housed in
Fix this textweathersheds, on verandahs in
Fix this textlibraries and so on. Remedial
Fix this textclasses, when staff is available
Fix this textto form them, are often housed
Fix this textin offices, storerooms and for-
Fix this textmer staffrooms. Of the 588 Ist
Fix this textand 2nd class schools surveyed,
Fix this text102 reported urgent classroom
Fix this textneeds, either of a general or a
Fix this textspecialist type.
Fix this textIn the 3rd Class schools, the
Fix this textproblem of shortage of class-
Fix this textroom space has, in many cases,
Fix this textreached critical proportions.
Fix this textOne school, typical of this
Fix this textgroup, reports a class of 27
Fix this textchildren in a 14ft. x 14ft.
Fix this textroom; in another case a room
Fix this text18ft. x 14ft. houses 25 children.
Fix this textHalls, often some distance from
Fix this textthe school itself, have had to
Fix this textbe hired to take the overflow.
Fix this textThe causes of such a situation
Fix this textare, of course, obvious —school
Fix this textbuildings that should long ago
Fix this texthave been pulled down and re-
Fix this textbuilt are still called into ser-
Fix this textvice, while others have been
Fix this textbuilt with little attention being
Fix this textpaid to the needs of increasing
Fix this textnumbers of pupils or the de-
Fix this textmands of changing curricula.
Fix this textSchools built before World War
Fix this textI, hardly produce a suitable en-
Fix this textvironment for mid-20th cen-
Fix this texttury education.
Fix this textLibraries and
Fix this textAssembly Halls
Fix this textThe failure of governments,
Fix this textboth State and Federal, to pro-
Fix this textvide adequate finance for edu-
Fix this textcation, shows clearly in the
Fix this textlack of provision in too many
Fix this textschools of adequate library
Fix this textfacilities. Over 60 schools from
Fix this textthe Ist and 2nd Class group
Fix this textmentioned this as their most
Fix this textpressing need. Altogether, only
Fix this text62% of the Ist and 2nd Class
Fix this textschools reported having a lib-
Fix this textrary permanently available, and
Fix this textin some cases, new schools have
Fix this textbeen opened without any lib-
Fix this textrary having been provided.
Fix this textAn Assembly Hall can only
Fix this textbe regarded as essential for the
Fix this textcorporate life of the school, yet
Fix this textonly 169 schools reported having
Fix this textany such provision. Once again
Fix this textfinancial cheese paring can be
Fix this textseen in the fact numbers of
Fix this textnew schools have been opened
Fix this textwithout an area in which the
Fix this textwhole school, or even part of
Fix this textit, can be assembled in one
Fix this textbody.
Fix this textWet Weather
Fix this textAccommodation
Fix this textThe apparent lack of inter-
Fix this textest shown by school planners
Fix this textin elementary comfort and
Fix this texthygiene is nowhere more appar-
Fix this textent than in the failure to pro-
Fix this textvide a place other than an over-
Fix this textcrowded classroom for children
Fix this textto eat their lunch on wet days.
Fix this textOf 588 Ist and 2nd Class
Fix this textschools, only 175 reported
Fix this texthaving any other covered area
Fix this textat all, and 50% of this group
Fix this textmentioned that what was pro-
Fix this textvided was in some way in-
Fix this textadequate for the needs of the
Fix this textschool.
Fix this textA similar neglect is apparent
Fix this textin the failure to provide shelter
Fix this textfrom the sun in hot climates,
Fix this textTABLE 1
Fix this textComparison with
Fix this textPrevious Years
Fix this textFirst and Second Class Schools.
Fix this text1965
Fix this text1966
Fix this text1967
Fix this textClasses of 30 and under .
Fix this text22.9%
Fix this text22%
Fix this text19.2%
Fix this text35 and over ..
Fix this text51.4%
Fix this text51%
Fix this text53.7%
Fix this text’ 40 and over
Fix this text15.7%
Fix this text15%
Fix this text15.5%
Fix this textThird Class Schools.
Fix this textClasses of 30 and under
Fix this text53.7%
Fix this text52.7%
Fix this text54.4%
Fix this text” ” 33-39
Fix this text31.5%
Fix this text28.6%
Fix this text30.6%
Fix this text40 and over
Fix this text7.4%
Fix this text5%
Fix this text5%
Fix this textsuch as Broken Hill, or to seal
Fix this textadequate areas of the play-
Fix this textground in dusty country areas,
Fix this textthus leaving dust bowl con-
Fix this textditions in which children eat
Fix this texttheir lunch during summer.
Fix this textToilet and Washing
Fix this textFacilities
Fix this textAlthough schools of all
Fix this textclasses reported problems in
Fix this textthese areas, once again the 3rd
Fix this textClass schools would appear to
Fix this texthave suffered the most neglect.
Fix this textIn too many of these schools
Fix this textdrinking and washing facili-
Fix this textties appear to be of the
Fix this textmore primitive type, while 169
Fix this textof the 3rd Class schools surveyed
Fix this texthave only pan toilet systems,
Fix this textalthough several stressed that
Fix this texteither sewerage or a septic
Fix this textsewerage system could be made
Fix this textavailable. Only 66% of this
Fix this textgroup of schools said they had
Fix this textadequate washing facilities for
Fix this textthe pupils.
Fix this textGeneral Problems
Fix this textStorage is an overall problem
Fix this textfacing many schools. While
Fix this textsome storage space is available
Fix this textin all but a small percentage
Fix this textof schools, this is of an in-
Fix this textadequate area and frequent
Fix this textreference is made to clinics and
Fix this textoffices having to be used as
Fix this textstorage spaces. Some schools
Fix this texthave been unable to take full
Fix this textadvantage of equipment avail-
Fix this textable because of the lack of
Fix this textstorage space.
Fix this textEquipment
Fix this textThe Survey revealed a very
Fix this textwide range of conditions as far
Fix this textas the quantity and quality
Fix this textof equipment available for
Fix this textpupils and staff are concerned.
Fix this textFrom comments made by a
Fix this textlarge percentage of all the
Fix this textschools surveyed, it is obvious
Fix this textthat the P. and C. Association
Fix this textis the mainstay of the school.
Fix this textSchool after school referred to
Fix this textthe equipment provided by the
Fix this textP. and C. efforts. The fact would
Fix this textseem to be that without these
Fix this textefforts modern teaching aids
Fix this textand materials would be almost
Fix this textnonexistent in our primary
Fix this textschools.
Fix this textAt the Premiers’ Conference
Fix this textin June, the Premier will be
Fix this textpresenting the case for increased
Fix this textfinancial allocation for New
Fix this textSouth Wales. It is essential that
Fix this textthe urgent needs of education be
Fix this textpressed strongly at both a Fed-
Fix this texteral and State level, so that vast-
Fix this textly increased finance for educa-
Fix this texttion will be made available,
Fix this textand the children of this State
Fix this textwill all have access to an educa-
Fix this texttion of the highest possible
Fix this textstandard.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710434099
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. (1919). Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Retrieved June 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710434099
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation and New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Sydney: The Federation, 1919. Web. 12 June 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710434099>
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. 1919, Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation The Federation, Sydney viewed 12 June 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710434099
{{Citation
| author1=N.S.W. Teachers' Federation.
| author2=New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation.
| title=Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.
| year=1919
| section=volumes.
| issn=0013-1156
| issue=Vol. 48 No. 10 (14 Jun 1967)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=The Federation
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-710434099
| id=nla.obj-710434099
| access-date=12 June 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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