FREE SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 303, 21 December 1903, Page 4

FREE SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Regulations have just beeu issued by | the Education Department, under tho Recondwy Schools' Act, dcaliug with the question of "free places".in secondary schools. The shape finally assumed by this Act does not differ materially from the original form of the bill already detailed in these columns. The secondary schools which have not accepted the proposal of the Education Department to throw open their doors to all primary schools' pupils who have passed the Sixth Standard arc required to provide ''free places" up to a maximum of one for every £50 of net income from endowments. The qualification for entry depends upon a variety of conditions. Pupils must be not more than 14 years old at the end of the year previous to entry. They must be holders of Education Board scholarships or other scholarships approved by the Minister: or they must have obtained v "certificate of proficiency" or have qualified at a junior national scholarship examination. ''Free" pupils must be of good character, and they shall be admitted only nt. the beginning of Ihe secondary school year—a provision for the convenience of the secondary schools which we are very glad to see inserted. In ease of insufficient accommodation, preference shall be given to Education Board scholars and after these admission shall be granted according to priority of application.' The free places shall be tenable only so long as the pupil attend.-, regularly and the report from the school or the fnspector(Jeneral is favourable. The work to be done by pupils holding "free places'' in secondary schools is carefully prescribed by the new .Vet,. The arithmetic and English must be above the level of the Sixth Standard and manual and technical instruct ion is to be provided with the help of special arants, in terms of the 1900 Act- Tn addition, any three subjects out of the following list must be taught —French. German. Latin, geometry, alsrebrn. trigonometry, mechanics, book-keeping, shorthand, physiology, geography, history—but no one is to be compelled to take Latin, an! not more than one language besides English shall be compulsory. At the end of two years the "free pupils must b? able to pass the Junior Civil Service or any similar test that the Minister may approve. Tt is evident thai, 'considerable care, has been taken in drafting the new regulations not, to interfere to any unnecessary extent with the present organisation of our secondary schools. Xo school is com-

ju'l'.pj to accept punils from outride i<s own educational district, or any .1!----ready living within practicable distance of a secondary or district High SchoolThe decision of (lie •rovcrnor?! of the Auckland Ova:nm:ir Solionl to accept the proposal* of the Department and to offer frep places instead ot increasing [he number of scliolarsliips already granted should make these particulars especially infprpsting lo our readers.