A WARM DEBATE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 6

A WARM DEBATE.

PETONE HIGH SCHOOL. " PENDING CHANGE. COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OVER< RULED. Petone has lately boon agitated over a suggested alteration in the constitution of its District High School. A proposal, vigorously championed by the chairman of the High School Committee, that a "rural course" should be substituted for the present school piograinme, gave riso to an animated controversy a few weeks ago. 'l'he matter was complicated by the fact that the Petone West End School Committee protested emphatically against ining ignored when the proposed alteration was under consideration. The whole question, including the last-mentioned phase, was reviewed at the meeting of the District High School Committee last evening, which was attended by: Messrs. D. M'Kenzio (chairman), it. Kirk, J. Abrahall, and tho Revs. A. Thomson and J. D. Russell. The subject was introduced by a letter from tho Wellington Education Board, arising out of a conference between tho board's district inspectors and the committee, which was held oil February 10 last. Tho board's letter covered and endorsed the following report by the inspectors :— Rural Course "Inadvisable." "We have the honour to report that on Friday,.'l'ebrnary 10, we met tho committeo of the Petone District High School in confcrenco on tho matter of the 'rural course.' We explained to the members of the committee tNat, owing to staffing and financial difficulties, it was, in our opinion, inadvisable to introduce tho additional courso unless the committee were prepared to forego tho matriculation and Civil Service junior (competitive) courses, to meet tho requirements of which the present programme of the District High School, is framed. So far, tho committee lias given no indication that it is prepared to do this. Wo further expressed our opinion to tho committee that technical instruction more in sympathy with, tho local industries in Petone could bo made available by the extension of the programme of the present Technical School. Wo indicated the lines upon which this could bo done. During the conference wo pointed out to the committeo that with adequate .staffing and sufficient funds, a good programme (for Petone) might very well provide for both industrial and rural courses." (Signed) T. R. FLEMING (For tho Inspectors). A Technical Day School. Tho chairman moved that a confcronco bo held between the managers of tho Technical School and the committee of th District High School for the purpose of discussing and Riving consideration to the establishment of a Technical Secondary School 'at Petone. Supporting his motion summarised above, Mr. M'Kenzio said it would bo impossible for the committeo to finance tho "rural courso" if it had-.to get an additional instructor, a £300 a year man. This was not the position as it had been originally understood. Tho committeo had been told that if it got the requisite number of .'pupils the course could ho instituted. Tho alternative proposal now submitted was to have a technical secondary day school. Tho proposal had been mentioned at tho last mooting of the Technical School Committee. That body thought it desirable that the matter should bo looked into. Personally tho speaker thought tho suggestion was a very good one. It seemed that the education that could bo got at this secondary technical school would bo practically . as good as that obtained at Wellington College. It would not bo quito so extensive perhaps, but would be of a very desirable character for a place like Petone. The Rev. A. Thomson suggested that it would be wise, in tho first place, to set up a sub-committoo to obtain information in regard to tho proposal. This courso had been adopted by, tho Technical School Board. They wero not — at least tho .speaker was not—sufficiently informed in regard to this technical day school to give a decided opinion. They' had to study .tho _ intorests ■ of boys and girls going in cither for the Civil Scrvieo or matriculation. The speaker believed that the other side of tho syllabus was very suitable for a place like Petone. After some further discussion Mr. M'Kenzie's motion was adopted. A sub-committeo, consisting qf the chairman and Messrs. Burd and Cairnswas set up to obtain detailed information in regard to the proposal. A Bons of Contention. Thus far smooth progress had been made, but the discussion took on a warmer tone when the Rev. J. D. Russell .'proposed that the Petone West School should bo invited to co-operatc in considering tho suggested establishment of a,. technical secondary day school. "I don't like to opposo you, Mr. Rus-sell,"-said the chairman, but thev (tho West Committee) have no jurisdiction in the matter of tho high school. When a proficiency scholar leaves their school and comes hero it is no longer their affair. If they were tho District High School Committee they would resent our interference with them." Mr. Russell: "I recognise that they have no jurisdiction,, but, seeing that they arc just as much affected as ourselves it would be rather a nice thing to suggest their inclusion in the pending conference." The chairman: "As you say, Mr. Russell, they have no jurisdiction, but they passed a very impertinent motion and went to the board about being left out of this conference. Thev wrote, not to this committee, but to the board, and what sort of reply did they get?— They know perfectly well." Mr. Cairns suggested that, although tho West School Committeo had no jurisdiction to partake in the suggested conference, it should be invited to forward suggestions bearing upon the propojpd departure. Mr. Cairns proposed a motion in terms of his suggestion. Tho Rev. A. Thomson: "This is a question that affects the interests of the whole of Petone. It is a bigger question than this committee, can deal with. The. West End School Committee, whatever their legal right may be, have a moral right to bo invited to tako part in any conference. Wo want the people of Petone to know what we arc doing." "Interference" Unnecessary. ill*. M'Kenzio: "If a school committee of nine, men is not competent to deal with tho matters educational of this district, it ought to bo. AVo don't need thqir interference, and wo don't want their advicc. That is my opinion." Mr. Thomson said this was a matter that was going to conccrn secondary education for tho wholo of Petone. Tho West Committeo was elected like tho High School Committee by iho people of Petone, and should m fairness lto asked to participate in this matter. As a school committee, they could not go half way. They must either invite tho West Committee, in a cordial way, to tako part in tho conference, or shut them out altogether. Tho speaker was not in favour of Mr. Cairns's motion. Mr. Cairns: "If they wero invited, would they he entitled to vote?" Mr. Thomson: "Jf it came to n. question of whether this school should be they, could not vote,

[ but, on tho general question, they should lie able lo take part m tho discussion." "Busy at the Telephone." Mr. M'Kenzio reiterated his objection to the co-operation of tho West Committee being invited. "It is jusL the same as in tho case of the 'rural course,'" lie said. "They were very busy at tile telephone—Mr. Castles was ringing up Mr. Stewart, of tho Education hoard, to know why tho West Committee was not represented. Mr. Stewart knew just as well as I do that they had no right on such a conference, except by invitation." .'•Jr. Thomson (addressing tho chairman) : "You must see that this matter affects the whole township. Jt ali'ccts everybody." Returning to the subject of the "rural eoursc," Mr. M'Kenzio declared that one-half tho secondary department of tho school had been ready to embrace it. The parents had no objection, if tho board had agreed to finance tho course. Ho added that when scholars camo to this school they wero under tho sole jurisdiction of'tho District High School Committee. Mr. Thomson said-this was something the committeo had not jurisdiction over. As soon as a technical day school was established, this committee would cease to havu jurisdiction. That was whv, ho urged, that tho West Committee should bo invited to take part in the conference. It would bo as reasonable, Mr. M'Kenzio declared, to invite the Borough Council. Oil on Troubled Waters. Mr. Russell said there was nothing to prevent tho AN est Committeo sending scholars to tho Hutt District Higti School if they so desired, instead of to the Petono High School. Tho West Committee had jurisdiction over half of Petone, and a largo proportion of tho secondary scholars came from their territory. It seemed to tho speaker that the committee was in favour of tho departure proposed, and no doubt tho West Committeo would favour it also. Certainly they should liavo a voice in the conference. This courso would bo in the direction of promoting a right spirit in tho town. They ought to ignore little things that happened among individuals, such as Mr. Castles telephoning, and so on, and go into tho thing in a friendly way. Concluding, Mr. Russell urged the chairman to embody in. the motion before the meeting a, clauso iiiviting tho West Committee to attend tho forthcoming conference. Mr. M'Kenzio: "I would not support it, anyway!" Mr. Russell thereupon moved, as an amendment, that tho West Committee bo invited to take part in the conference. A vote being taken, everyone voted for the amendment cxcept tho chairman. Rather Extraordinary. "llather extraordinary," commented Mr. M'Kenzie, viewing the show of hands, and alluding to tho fact that the mover of the motion before tho meeting had voted for tho amendment. Mr. Cairns explained that liis understanding of the matter at issue had been enlarged by tho remarks of Messrs. Russell and Thomson. He desired, therefore, to withdraw his motion. This ended tho discussion.