PETONE HIGH SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 341, 30 October 1908, Page 8

PETONE HIGH SCHOOL.

BOARD v. SCHOOL COMMITTEE,

EVADING THE ISSUE.

There recently appeared in the columns of The Dominion, under tho headings of "Petone High School"—"Tho Thin End of the Wedge," an account of a difference between the l'otono School Committee and the Wellington Education Board concerning the latter's proposal to accommodate the secondary high school classes in the now Technical School building. Referring to tho article in question, which enunciates the Petone School Committee's, side of the case, tho secretary of tho Education Board complains that the Potone Committee has evaded the main points at issue, and desires that the full text of the board's .arguments be giveni publicity. The negotiations, let it be explained, were entrusted to a sub-committee appointed by tho Education Board, which conferred with the chairman of the Petone School Committee, and tho proposals wero subsequently embodied in the following suggestions :— The suggestion of the boa.rd was that an endeavour be mado to arrange with tho managers of the Technical Schoolfor tho occupation of the Technical School by the secondary pupils of the Petone District High School during tho day. Tho following considerations were pertinent to the question--1. The larger size of the class rooms, and the fact that they are built ■ for class purposes, ensures greater additional comfort to the pupils than ■is afforded .by the' present class-rooms. 2. The appliances for manual and technical instruction are at hand, and consequently there would be a vast economy ,of time and effort in. travel to and fro, and in the. greater ease with which the teacher, if located in the building, could make preparation for, say, the science experiments of tho day—often these require an hour or two in preparation. The great advantage of the juxtaposition of class and manual and' technical rooms is very evident,. 3. There is immediately a.t hand a fine playground area for recreation. 4. The course of instruction in a' town like Petone will naturally fall rather along commercial and industrial- than along old grammar Mhool lines, and h.enco the association of thy secondary department with the Technical School is natural, and is on exactly the plan contemplated by the board elsewhere, e.g., at Pahiatua. Tho arrangement hero suggested . obtains almost universally in Germany and other progressive Continental countries. 5. It is to bo noted that the conjunction of the secondary school with the Technical School almost invariably • has the result that the junior school acts as a feeder to the Technical School.- This result is being happily experienced in Wellington, where it is notable that the calibro and preparedness of the students at the evening classes have undergone a marked improvement owing to the better initial training gained in the. day classes prior to outering the-ovening classes. 6. Not only, then, would there be a reasonable expectation of increased efficiency, but tho great saving in administrative cost is well worthy of consideration,' It costs less to maintain ono than two establishments, and, while the respective administering,, bodies would save half cost, the country would bo saved tho interest on the largo capital cost of the present District High School building. Under this head the boa.rd stands to gain nothing, so far as I am aware, -but the uonntry will. '

It may be said,".wrote the bpard'a .secretary, "that it-,will be difficult to carry on m the same building the work of day and oyenmg students, but no difficulty is in practice encountered. The day classes at Wellington, for occupy the same rooms as the evening classes, but'no difficulty is experienced. The board would, of course, provide for the secondary pupils* necessary seating accommodation, which would be available for evening students. Further, lockers and cupboards ttf contain the things used by the former would be provided, so that the rooms should be clear for the use of the latter at night. On the ground, then, of undoubted gain, in efficiency,. of economy, of improved' health conditions for the children, of gain to tho secondary department, of gain to the Technical School, the' board presents the above proposal to your committee with tho full. hopo that it will receivo the consideration its ■ importance merits." No reply to tho . above had, at tho date of the board's meeting yesterday, been received from the Petone School Committee. In the Wanganui district, it is stated, three technical schools are now'used in tho manner suggested to ,the Petoho Committee.