PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 250, 19 October 1894, Page 4

PRIMARY EDUCATION.

SEVENTH STARDARD PUPILS,

At bhe meeting of the Board of Education to-day, the Chairman (Mr Udy) made an interesting statement in connection with the Seventh Standard pupils in the public schools. He considered thab the manner in which bhe Board wero conducting secondary education in the primary schools was injurious to the interests of the younger pupils. He stated bhab there wero no less than 390 pupils in the Seventh Standard in tho echools of bhe districb, disbribubed as follows: — Wellesley -street School, 44 pupils; Berasford-street, 15 ; Napier-street, 6 ; Nelson-street. 2 ; Devonport, 9 ; Grafton Road, 4 ; Newton East, 50 ; Newton West,. 23 ; Parnell, 26 ; Ponsonby, 67 ; Richmond Road, 1; Mount Eden, 17; Epsom, 4 ; Remuera, 18 : Onehunga, 20 ; Eaueranga Girls, 13 ; Parawai, 11; Tararu, 10; Waiokaraka, 19 ; Waiokaraka Creek, 9; Avondale, 8; Otahuhu, 4: total, 390. Mr Udy considered thab this education of the Seventh Standard pupils was carried on at the expense of the young children, and some steDs should be taken to deal with the matter "it would be better, perhaps, to collect all the Seventh Standard into ono school and appoinb teachers to look after them,.than allow them to be taught at the expense of the lower pupils. The oldest of the Seventh Standard pupils in the schools was 17 years and 11 months of age. Mr Muir concurred with the remarks of the Chairman, and said thab some of the 7th Standard pupils were kept on at school when they were almosb old enough to get married, being unprepared to entera service which would benefit themselves, though perhaps it might benefit the public afterwards. He thought that something should be done to stop the increase of the proportion of 7th Standard pupils in the schools.

Tha matter waa deferred,