Junior Colleges “Suited To N.Z. Conditions”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 10

Junior Colleges “Suited To N.Z. Conditions”

The suggestion that junior colleges should be set up in New Zealand, made by Professor V. J. Chapman of Auckland University, was timely, Mr G. Guy, the principal of Christchurch Teachers’ College, said yeste’- ry. “From my own observations, they are one of the features of American education particularly suited to New Zealand conditions,” he said.

“Such colleges are staffed by secondary school teachers in the main, and in New Zealand could be established to make a better use of the specialist teachers available foe upper sixth form work. In some areas these junior colleges are also community colleges catering for the education of adults in both day and evening sessions,” Mr Guy said. “They have many other advantages. They are less costly than the setting up of further full universities and staffs are appointed for teaching purposes only. They provide a proving ground for

students and so eliminate earlier those not fitted for an advanced academic education. They are cheaper, too, for the students, who may stay longer at home when these colleges are in country centres. They take much of the load from the universities and give greater scope tor adult education and the re-education which is so necessary for many today. “It California the junior colleges commence at Grade 13 (upper sixth form in New Zeeland) and cater for a wide range of student interests. They give a general education associated with many kinds of technical and academic training. The twoyear course may take the place of the first -wo years at university and for others may give the final period of schooling before obtaining a job. There is an associatesiiip of arts or sciences awarded to the successful students, and those gaining places in universities have the first two years (of a four-year course) completed,” Mr Guy said.