WEST CHRISTCHURCH HIGH SCHOOL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15313, 29 July 1915, Page 10

WEST CHRISTCHURCH HIGH SCHOOL.

# FEAR OF ABOLITION. The North Canterbury Education Board was thrown into consternation yesterday when it was announced that there was a probability of the Education Department abolishing the West Christchurch District High School. The Appointments Committee reported that a letter had been received from the Department resretting its inability authorise the services of an additional assistant for the secondary deunrtment of the Christchurch West District High School, and pointing out that a District High School in the city was wholly an anomaly, and thai its maintenance in such surroundings must therefore be regarded as temporary only. It was agreed to reply that the Board took strong exception to the statement referring to the Christchurch West D.H.S. as a school "whose very existence it is difficult to defend," and that the Board was decidedly of opinion that no District High School in tho Dominion could compare with this school in the excellence of the results obtained in the various public examinations during the last eight or nine years, as follows: — ''Over 300 passed the Public Service entrance examination. 31 in tho first 50 for the Dominion; 60 matriculation and solicitor's general knowledge ;IS Board Senior scholarships ; 24 Board Junior scholarships; 5 Junior national scholarships; 12 School of Art exhibitions for girls; and 5 International exhibition medals and certificates for writing numbers of English essay prizes of different kinds." In tho circumstances the Board had no doubt that the school had infilled, with marked success, tbe functions of a public secondary or con- • tiuu'.tion school of a typo that it would :be well to adopt in the other chief cities of the Dominion. The Board therefore respectfully asked the Department to reconsider its decision, especially in view of the facts above mentioned. The report was adopted.