District High Schools.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume 1, Issue II, 10 May 1905, Page 3

District High Schools.

SECONDARY CURRICULUM. A question of importance to country residents was discussed at last week's meeting of the Southland Education Board. Ihe chairman^ Mr J. Cowie, moved .m the direction of enabling junior scholarship holders, during the currency of their tuition, the j option of attending district high ! schools instead of requiring them to attend the High School, Invercarj gill. H _ argued m support that parents objected to the inconvenience | of their children having to make the I journey into town. | The District High School training was quite j sufficient for the requirements of the case. A saving would be effected, as the grant would be reduced from £30 to £5.— Mr Scandrett seconded the proposal. He considered it would be a step on the part of parent?, but if they desired it he saw no reason for denying them the option — Mr W. Macalistcr spoke m opposition. Ihe questtbn was net what parents might desire, but what was best to be done m the interest of education. The best secondary education was to ' be got at the High School, Invercargill, and he felt strongly no option should be left.— - MrD Gilchrist argued it was better for some children that they shduld be kept under home supervision, and m view thereof he supported the option.— Mr T. W. Raymond urgfd that as the High] School Board of

Governors had spent a large amount inbringing the High School up to a high. state of efficiency, it was ther duty to see that the school itself was well maintained. He contended it was m the interest of the child itself to attend the High School m preference to a district school. — Mr T.. Mac Gibbon adopted similar views. In : district schools secondary educe* tioh 3: was made to a large extert subsidiary. The latter aimed only at fitting pupils for the secondary coyrse nrovided by the High SchooV — the Chairman m reply recognised the efficiency of their High school, but thought a District High Scho< 1 was quite enough for a junior scholar} ship holder fpr the two yeai s. They knew of many instances of children resigning altogether simply because ' the- parents objected to their having to go to invercargill.— -The motion was carried on the casting vote bi the chairman. In declaring it carried he reminded the Board that it simply had the effect of a recommendation, which the department might or might not act upon as it thought fit.