TAURANGA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6969, 30 January 1918, Page 3

TAURANGA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Its Educational Course.

*(To the Editor.)

Sir,—During the past few weeks I hsve had many inquiries concerning the nature o!! tha educational course connected with Vac Tauianga District Bigh School, and many of the inquiries lave been of such a nature that vntb your permission, I 9hould like to supply to the residents of this district some information concerning the work the school is doiDg. In the first place I wish to state emphatically that the above school v capable of providing a sound secondary education sittilar to that >o bs obtained in the large seeotidajcy schools and college in Hie cities, and that ac far as the T!ay of Plenty i? concerned there is no necessity to nend boys atul to other schools when their wants can be provided for in ttiia town. I; fact when, through removal from the aistrict, it has been necessary to transfer uur pupils to tha large schools mentioned, they Lave more than held tbeir own with pujiils of equal age and attainment.

A3 should be the ca?e in an agricultural district, the school provides a course in Agriculture and Dairy SciencH which lays the foundation of sound knowledge for future use. The whole of the work is carried on exDerinjesitally with opportunities for practical and observational wurk upon the field plots connected with the school. A well equipped Science Roomf has recently beeu built and this en-! ables all experiments to be conducted? advantageously. The proximity of the; Government Experimental Farm ia| also au added benefit, where the itady' of the latest methods hi orchard work and beekeeping is carried on under the direction of Mr Davidson, the Manager, to whom I am deeply indebted for his keen interest in ifafr pupils. In addition to the above Rural Course tbe following subjects are taught .-—Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic, Book-keeping, English Gram mer and Literatufe, Latin, French,., Geography, History, Drawing, Wood \ work (for boys), Cooking and Dress- \ making and Home Science (for girls).| Attached to the school is the Manual? Training Centre wbeic classes for. the schools of tee surrounding district are held regularly. At the close of two years' training the pupils are ready for the Public Service Entrance, and Senior Free Place Examination?. Those who are sble to stay at school longer are prepared for Matriculation and Senior Scholarships. These are the examinations for which the large majority of the pupils of the city secondary schools ore prepared, and as an indication of what success is obtained the following list may serve ite purpose: For the last three jears— Senior National Scholarship 2 passes Public Service Entrance 6 passea Senior Free Places 26 passes Matriculation 2 passes | Lately the number of pupils coming ! from the districts outside Tauranga ! has been on the increase, and with improved means of communication the members should be greater still. With regard to the acco'tiimdation of these pupils I would like to point out the knnier.es advantage that would result to parents as well as to the school if some interested residents here could see their way clear to establishing good homes for those pupils who require board and lodging. There is 3 building within the immediate vicinity of the school that would su:t admirably a* a boarding establishment, and if "it were so conducted that it could be under ecbool supervision after houra as ace similar estabiiahreents in connection with the Auck- ; larid Colleges, then parents would \ have confidence in sending their children away from home to school here. 0 I need not stress the advantages to be gained also by sendng children to eueh.fl healthful spot as Tauranga with dpiendid facilities for sport and swiuueing and open-air life, instead of to tta crowded city. Trusting I am net Lespassing too much upon your space a«d thanking you for your eouitasy, j I remain, 1 Youis truly, i \ NURMAN 11. S. LAW, j Headmaster, j Tauiatigs January 2Stb, 191 S.