JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 8

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

OFFICIAL OPENING AT NORTHCOTE.

MERITS OF THE SYSTEM. ALL ROI'ND 1-inVAI'ION. Tlie (Mucin! ceremony, on Saturday afternoon, in cutuio.-t inn with tlie establishment ~f v Junior High School at Xorthcot,'. iittr.icti'd n considerable attendance of parents. The new institution, of which Mr. W. .1. Wernhnm is tho headmaster, has about '_!<> pupils. It is understood that when the population warrents another Grammar School will bo provided fur die Birkenhead and Xorthcoie districts, in addition to that decided upon for the Xortb. shore at Belmont.

The Minister of Education, Sir James ran-, briefly addressed the scholars prior to the' march past. He impressed upon them that the Junior High School was the best possible lor those from 13 to 1.) years of age. A much better education' was given the little men and women than in the old type of school. He wanted the parents to let them stay for the three full years. They would then go out with a very fair education — a much better education than under the old standards system. He congratulated them on being among the earliest to enjoy the benefits of the new scheme. They would find two assets most valuable when they went out into the world—a good character, and a good education. Sir James, who was accompanied by Lady Parr, made an inspection of the remodelled building, and commended tlie samples of work which came under his view. Addressing the parents, the Minister said a Junior High School did not necessarily mean a new school. It meant a new type of education —a new course of instruction to that given previously. Instead of standards V. and VI. receiving instruction nt separate schools, they were gathered together, and in tbe one building were given a well-balanced course of education for three years. Tlie proper proportion was six years in the primary school, and three years in tho Junior High School, instead of eight years in tbe primary and one year at tlie Grammar or Technical School. The test must always be: What is best for tlie child? He could giye them his positive assurance that at the Junior High School the children would be given a more scientifically arranged education than ever before. It was recognised that children were differently moulded, and instead of having an academic bias education should be of an all-round character. Thus, often, the'npparently dull boy discovered he had in him a genius that the otherwise sharp and quick boy lacked. Consequently the boy of 15 would go out with a more intelligent -understanding of what his mission in life was and what his occupation ought to be. The success of the pupil largely rested upon the teachers whom it was proposed should bo trained for Junior High Schools, which would be increased a hundredfold. Mr. A. Harris, M.P., congratulated the district on the consummation of the efforts of those who felt that the children deserved the benefit of the most advanced methods of education obtainable. The credit of the initial stages was largely due to tho headmaster, Mr. W. J. Wernham, and members of the Auckland Education Board, principally Mr. McPhail, in pushing tlicir claims before tlie Minister. The Junior High School system would stand as a lasiing monument all over the county' to tlie work of the Minister. Mrs. N. Ferner, member of the Auckland Education Board, said that die bad been impressed, during her recent trip, with the distinct advance in educational matters in London. The work she had since seen at Kowhai was even an improvement on that in the new type of school in London. She was glad the people of Northcote were to havo tbe benefit of enlightened methods, under which girls' education would not bo neglected. Mr. Jamesj P. McPhail hoped the travelling allowance would be increased to permit the Albany children being conveyed to the Junior High School by motor-bus. The Education Board had never appealed to the Minister in vain when tho cause had been a just one. There were two primary classes boused in the present building, which would soon be required for the purposes of tho Junior High School. Messrs. C. A. Deuxberry (Mayor of Northcote), Albert Hadfield (deputyMayor of Birkenhead), and H. S. Gribben (chairman of the Northcote School Committee) also addressed theggatherr r ing, emphasising the progress of the districts, and congratulating the educational authorities on their enterprise.