PREPARATORY CLASSES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 5

PREPARATORY CLASSES

ARE THEY DESIRABLE?

IN TIE GIRLS' COLLEGE,

The- question of whether little- girls should bo taught iti preparatory classes at the Wellington . Uiris' College Was discussed at tlie High School Board of Governors' meeting yesterday. Mr. 11. Lee moved"That -after December, 19.14, no girl under IS years of age who has not- passed an examination qualifying lie-r i'pr a ires place shall be admitted to the Wellington Girls' College." Mr. Lee, supporting his motion, said thai, the Girls' School was .overcrowded, and the board would shortly bo asked to provide for a new classroom. At the same time there wsfe two classes of 13 girls each, under separate teachers, and these two classes consisted of girls under 12 years of age. They Were, in fact, preparatory classes, and were not properly a part of a Girls' High School. He'qiioted figures to show that the. Wellington Girls' College was practically the only soljool which undertook tho carrying oa of preparatory classes., and in view of tho demands made upon the school acconWHotlation for freo places, lie did not think it was right that places should be denied to girls entitled to them, beeatise those places wore occupied by girls' tinder 12 years of ago. Jsof did. no think the carrying on of preparatory classes, in a high school was altogether desirable from mi educational point of view. Perhaps later some- proposal mifilrt be flmdo for the establishment -of a- separate preparatory school, but the Department might not .be- -willing to find the money for it, and tho scheme would probably end in nothing. The fact Was that the sehool was now' -overcrowded, and tho present fivercrowding ought not aioif to lo tolerated, ■ Mr. A. de B. Brandon said tlmt.it was desirable from an edusatiotfal pom£ of view in these days when, such a number of short-term pupils west through tho school, to have a. number of longterm pupils attending the school .to keep tho traditions of the School alive and continuous. This could be secured by the admission of girls in tho -preparatory stage. They entered young avicl stayed for it goad number of years. The loeal eir* cunjstaces of the case were that the preparatory branch of the school oceil* pied two rooms whielt would b» Useless for bigger .girls, wlia would ■ re:<jaiw more, equipment such as. desks ■for wlifcih there was no space in these rooffis. The-ab.pi'iti'on of the school would net only involve tie loss of the fees paid by these children-, abonf £120, hut would re.ir.Gve fvoia the sehool these young children who were a valuable object lesson to the bigger, girls, Be maintained that it was very necessary that jy'.rls; and. young women should bii ■ acquainted with the habits and character . of very voung children'. Mr. w. S. P. Barber suggested ill at. the preparatory school was financially nnsftiuitt,

Tksro was a discussion on the poiiit b-ttt it appeared that tho teachers in charge of the preparatory work were of use to the rest of tho school, Mr. Barber still maintained that there was no place in a high school for pre* parntory classes. Ho seconded tho resolutioJi, Mr, W, 0, Field sold that seeing the preparatory class rooms could not ho utilised for other purposes, it would,, perhaps, he well to leave things as they wefe. Under other eireum stances he .•night have supported Mr. Lee's proposition. Mr. Brandon repeated that to give effect to tho motion would simoly convert rooms at present useful into wgsfco space. Mr. Field moved the following amendment"That while approving a system of junior schools preparatory to high school teaching, where tjio mini" her of pupils offering is sufficient, and where other circauistanees are favourable this board is of opinion that ;.;nder existing local conditions no immediate change is called for in tlio, case of tho Girls' College." The amendment was carried. Mi>sg». Brandon, Field, and Word voted for it, and Messrs-. Lee- and Barber against it.