CONSTITUTION AS HIGH SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21246, 18 August 1934, Page 10

CONSTITUTION AS HIGH SCHOOL

♦ — POSITION AT WEST CHRISTCHURCH EDUCATION BOARD'S OPINION "That the board is of the opinion that West Christchurch should be constituted as a high school under the control of this board, that the intermediate department be retained, and when it becomes necessary a fully equipped intermediate school should te established in another part of Christchurch." The above resolution, recommended by a special committee appointed "to consider and report on the anomalous status of the West Christchurch Disi trict High School," was adopted by I the Canterbury Education Board yesI terday morning, when deputat ions from [ the West Christchurch and Addington School Committees waited on the board. Speakers outlined the positions of the schools affected on the lines of the addresses at the recent meeting of householders and parents. ' The report of the special committee stated:—"Mr Thompson explained the object of the meeting, which was to ascertain whether anything could be done to place the school, winch was fulfilling the purpose of a high school but was sadly equipped in comparison with other post-primary schools, on a more satisfactory basis, both as regards the intermediate and secondary department. A statement on the position prepared by Mr L. F. de Berry (headmaster) was received, as was also a memorandum from Mr G. Benstead (member of the board)." It was reported that advice had just come to hand from the department that grants had been made for the provision of extra accommodation and for cookery and woodwork rooms. ! School Committee's Views i Mr T. Andrews, chairman of the West Christchurch School Committee, said that the roll number of the secondary department of the West Christchurch District High School was increasing faster than that of any other school in New Zealand. The intermediate section was not functioning properly at present, and it would be worse next year, because 160 pupils would be leaving and there would be only 110 pupils from Addington to replace them. This would mean the loss of at least two teachers. Mr C. D. W. L. Sheppard said that he represented the Old Pupils' Association as well as the school committee. Some 50,000 pupils had passed through the school, and the old pupils took a keen interest in the school. West Christchurch was no longer a district school; it war serving too wide a district. If the children were to get the full benefit of the intermediate svstem at West Christchurch more schools must send their children there or' another school must be established, for instance, on the Milne street site. Mr Sheppard expressed the opinion that the abandonment of the intcrI mediate scheme would be a disaster. Mr S. R. Evison. representing the parents and guardians, said that there was a need for another high school in Christchurch. There were more than 700 pupils at the Christchurch Boys' High school, of which only 17 were- paying scholars. In the 81 district high schools in the Dominion the average roll was 62, yet the roll number of West Christchurch was 550. That lifted the school out of the classiI fieation of a district high school, and the children were entitled to high school service, contended Mr Evison Mr Evison suggested that it would be a calamity if the committee and the beard should not be in harmony in j their contentions regarding the West i Christchurch School. The board would ; have to define its policy sooner or ( la* or. i Position at Addington j i .a- J. S. Barnett, representing the j Arlington School Committee, said) that one of the greatest advantages | claimed for the district high school j system was the facility it offered for the classification of academic, technical, and commercial pupils, with particular attention to retardate pupils. This was practically impossible at West Christchurch now, and it would be even less so in the future. All that was being done for pupils at West Christchurch could be done at Addington without the inconvenience to parents caused by sending their children long distances to school. Even ' if the equipment were found there was not the staff or accommodation, for classes were even now being taught in shelter sheds and corridors. Even given the equipment, the staff, . anrl the accommodation, the school would be so cumbersome as to be impossible to be controlled by one , man. The Milne street project had ' been shelved, but it was hoped that in better times it would come to the front again. The Addington committee urged the restoration of the Addington School to its former status. In reply to a question, Mr L. F. de 1 Berry, headmaster of the West Christchurch District High School, said that i the district high school system was i never meant to be applied to city schools. Pupils at West Christchurch ; were doing high school work. He < said that the high schools' syllabus provided for a five or six years' course, ( while the course for district high , schools was of two or three years. j Board's Decision After the retirement of the deputa- , tions Mr J. J. Hurley moved and Mr . W. P. Spencer seconded, that the report of the special committee be ! adopted. J Mr R. Wild moved as an amendment. ' and Mr H. J. Bignell seconded, that j the Minister for Education be invited ' to confer with the board if possible between September 17 and 22, or if his 1 personal attendance was not possible i that he instruct the Director of Educa- < tion to visit Christchurch and meet I the board to formulate a scheme for the operation and control of the West ' Christchurch School and similar < schools. c The amendment was lost on the ( casting vote of the chairman and Mr t Hurley's motion was carried. Mr W. x A. Banks recording his vote against . it. j j On the motion of Mr W. P. Spencer. , ' seconded by Mr Hurley, it was decided l that the board should take steps to , confer with the Minuter for Education as soon as possible. r