Experimental school delayed

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 3

Experimental school delayed

(By our education reporter)

Proposals to open New Zealand’s first State-con-trolled and financed experimental school in Christchurch next year have become bogged down by planning delays in the Department of Education. The experimental school project, known as a “school without walls,” envisages community-based education for pupils between 11 and 18. The school would use existing educational, cultural, and private facilities and tutors from various educational and other fields. The emphasis in the proposed school would be on learning within the community rather than in the classroom. It is more than a year since the Minister of Educationi (Mr Amos) gave his

support in principle to the establishment of the school. The Director of Secondary Education (Mr P. W. Boag), who ordered an investigation into the experimental school proposals, said in March that he was enthusiastic about the scheme. A report on how the school could be established has been discussed by the Hagley High School board, which it is suggested will administer the new school. The board sent comments on conditions which it wanted regarding the proposed school to the Department of Education more than a month ago. No acknowledgement of the board’s comments has been given by the department’s head office in Wellington. The district senior inspector of secondary schools for the southern region of the Department of Education (Mr R. U. Roy) said on 1

March 13 that the proposal had been given a favourable reception by the department. On April 17, the Minister of Education’s office told the member of Parliament for Rangiora (Mr T. K. Burke) that there could be a decision on the proposed school “in a few days.” But unless a firm Government commitment to the proposal was given soon, it would be impossible for final planning to take place, said a spokesman for the organising committee (Mr W. Logeman). “We cannot go ahead and set up the governing council of educational representatives and representatives from the teachers’ college, the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, and the Canterbury Trades Council, until we know if the proposed Government support is forthcoming,” he said.

The cost of running the school would be about $3BO per pupil per year — and there had been support from more than 200 persons for the proposal, Mr Logeman said. The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association is also sympathetic to the proposal in line with moves which it supports to introduce more community-based secondary education in New Zealand. One of the reasons for the Department of Education’s delay in giving a final report to the Minister may be the absence overseas on study leave of the principal -of Hagley High School (Mr I. D. Leggat), who has been a supporter of the scheme. “If Mr Leggat can give his help as soon as he returns on August 20, there might be some hope that our planning may still get off the ground in time for next\ year," Mr Logeman said.