INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21256, 30 August 1934, Page 8

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

+ DOUBTS ABOUT THE | SYSTEM j OPPOSITION FROM COMMITTEES' ' FEDERATION '.SPECIAL TO TBI I'EESS.I | TIMARU, August 29. Being of opinion that the needs of primary schools should first be satisfied, the Dominion Federation of the School Committees' Associations, at its annual conference today, strongly opposed the further establishment of intermediate schools in New Zealand. Mr W. G. Black (Manawatu) introduced the following remit: ' That ! the federation strongly opposes the intermediate schools movement and j reaffirms the resolution passed at !the 1933 conference." Mr N. A. Ingram (Wellington) said the system received little thought from those responsible for its introduction into New Zealand. He considered that the federation should protest against the introduction of something likely to cause disruption of the present education system. Mr R. S. 11. Buchanan (Canterbury) said that he was unable to see any advantage in the movement, as the present position of primary schools was anything but satisfactory and should be improved first. The hygienic conditions of some schools were not satisfactory, and while the Government had seen fit to increase the maintenance grant to school committees, the grant was still insufficient to improve the position very much. It was quite clear that it was not desirable to increase intermediate schools in his district. The West Christchurch intermediate department had been a failure, and quite possibly would be closed, while the Milne street project wds still in the air. A Successful School The remit was opposed by Mr A. Roberts (Auckland), who said that the Kowhai intermediate school was carrying on successfully in his district, and provided tuition of a high standard. Mr C. R. N. Mackie (Canterbury) said the position in Christchurch was not quite clear. Some school committees were in favour of the system but were opposed to it at the present juncture, and under the present conditions. In New Zealand they had the embryo of a new system, which in parts of the Dominion apparently worked well. The federation would be ill-advised to condemn the system as a whole. He could not say whether the system had been a success, but he did know that Shirley was not a success because it was poorly equipped. In his opinion the authorities had no right to introduce the system until they had sufficient funds to assure the necessary equipment. Until New Zealand could guarantee the proper equipment and staffing of intermediate schools it had no right to spend money when the primary school system was in a state of dilapidation. Mr Black submitted the following amended remit: "That the federation opposes at present the further establishment of intermediate schools until full enquiries have been made in each prospective district, and until sufficient equipment can be provided." Two-year Course Criticised Mr A. E. Lawrence, who was invited to speak, said the ciepartment had at its disposal all the information concerning the intermediate school system that it was possible to get in the British Empire, but n could not point to one place where there was a type in wnich a twoyear course, such as in Christchurch, had been used. It was the first time that the New Zealand Educational Institute had joined forces with school committees in unanimously condemning a movement by the department. The explanation of the alleged" success of the Kowhai school wns its three-year course and the fact that it had been established at a cost greater than that of any other school in New Zealand. The department had now reduced the school to a two-year course, and he contended that no school could hope to be successful when conducted on such unsound lines. Mr Black agreed to the suggestion that the words "and until the needs of the present primary schools have been satisfied," be added, thl motion being seconded by Mr R. S. Vercoe (Otago) and carried unanimously.