JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17460, 22 May 1922, Page 2

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

PAVOTJEED BY EDUCATIONISTS. j (rBESS ASSOCIATION TBLBHUK.} WELLINGTON, May 19. The junior, high school proposals, as advocated by the Minister of Education, were discussed at Parliament Buildings to-day by four delegates from each branch of tho teaching profession, namely, high schools, primary echools, and technical schools. The following were present at the conference: Representing primary schools, Miss E. A. Chaplin, Messrs W. H. Newton, W. H. S. Law, and F. G. Gibbs; representing the secondary schools, Miss Lynch, and Messrs F. Milner, T. R. Cresswell, and W. Thomas; representing the technical schools, Messrs I. Newton, E. G. .Jonc-s, F. W. Martin, and ,J. H. Howell. .p. The Minister of Education (the Hon. C J Parr) presided, and there were also pfesent the following departmental officers:—The Director of Education (Mr J. Caughley). the Chief Inspector of Primary Schools (Mr T. B. Strong), the Chief Inspector of High Schools (Mr J. Drummond), and the Director cf Technical Education (Mr W. S. La jprobc\ The following motions were adopted : (X) "That the primary course should in general be determined by attainment that can reasonably be expected • or pupils who have completed their twelfth year.*' * ' , (2) "That as an introduction to tno general system an intermediate or junior high school course be established m the oentres of different types." (3) "That further enquiry should be. distinctly made as to the introduction of such systems in other countries, especially England, Scotland, Wales, and America. - The Minister, commenting on the work of the conference, said there had been a most useful discussion, which had brought out every possible point of view. "I am greatly indebted to conference," he said, for its valuable suggestions. Generally speaking, they wero entirely sympathetic with the proposal that we should make a trial and experiment on a new intermediate or junior high school course, and I adopt willingly their suggestion that a full, enquiry and investigation EJhould take place ns to what is being done in other countries." As to the necessity for beginning post-primary education at twelve years of age or thereabouts, there was, added the Minister, complete unanimity of opinion at the conference. Further, as to the advisability of a new curriculum embodying varying types or courses of instruction suitable to the varying mental aptitudes and interests of students, there was very little difference of opinion. A good deal of discussion had centred round the issue as to whether the new schools should be a separate educational unit, or should be linked up with the present primary course, or, alternatively with existing secondary or technical institutions, and be conducted, in either case, in the same schools. Generally, however, it was felt that nothing should be done to hamper a fair trial of the new type of school in the large centres as a separate school or unit, artd the Minister was encouraged to develop this idea accordingly. With regard to larger boroughs, the Minister proceeded, there was a feeling that existing high schools or district high schools might well be made the locus in qua for the new type of instruction. A useful suggestion- ,had come from the primary school teachers present with respecKto rural education. The representatives of that bran.h of the service had emphasised the needs of the country child and had suggested that the Minister should establish in country districts ' rural high schools which should gather by motor or other transport children at present in the sth and 6th standards to a common centre to a new school which should be the junior high school for, the district. The primary school report had -stated that they saw greater prospects of success in this direction than in the large centres, and urged that the consolidated school system would go a long way t'g remove present disabilities the country in the way of getting higher education. The Minister expressed his complete sympathy witn the idea, and said he would consult with his departmental officers a3 to whether in some districts whsre the roads were good and transport was cheap, the suggestion tfould_not be tried out. The conference generally, he said in conclusion, was of opinion that experiments should be made in three different of places, the cities, trie larger .boroughs ana rural districts, simultaneously. Some delegates desired caution before proceeding to the wholesale application of any plan, but tho majority of the reports were clear that a change must take place on the lires of the proposals made by the Minister in order to make our educational system more consonant with np-tOTdnte educational thought and practice, an.l urged upon the Minister I that there should be no undue delay.