KING’S COLLEGE HEAD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 8

KING’S COLLEGE HEAD

Mr. J. N. Peart Arrives From England

OLD BOY OF AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The opinion that the secondary schools in England were not up to the standard of those in New Zealand, was expressed by Mr. J. N. Peart, the new headmaster of King's College, Auckland, in an interview with “The Dominion” on Ins arrival by the Remuera from London yesterday morning. Mr. Peart, who was accompanied by Ins wife and two children, was met at the wharf by Mr. 11. R. Chalmers, Wellington representative of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, and Mr. G. 11. Batger, of Auckland, secretary of the association.

“It is very interesting to be back in New Zealand,” said Mr. Peart, who is an old boy of Auckland Grammar School. "I went away with no knowledge whatever of the English public schools, except a recollection that their decadence was at. hand, if one believed some of the leading newspapers. I think there is quite a lot we can learn from the English system. As far as actual education is concerned, New Zealanders have got a very good name.” Mr. Peart said he had been told by university people in England that, the

New Zealand students were, if anything, above the average. The English secondary schools, which were run by the local authorities, were, in his opinion, not up to Ihe standard of the secondary schools in New Zealand. “Here in the Dominion,” he said, "we call Wellington College and Nelson Col. lege, for example, secondary schools. Those schools are really up to the standard of what in England they call public schools." Mr. Peart was born at Collingwood (Nelson) in 3900, and at fourteen entered Auckland Grammar School on an open scholarship. Two years later he won a senior scholarship in open competition, and in 1918 he won a junior university scholarship. At the Grammar School he was also prominent in sport, and in 1920 and 1021 he was a member of the University first fifteen. He also gained his blue for athletics. He graduated B.A. in 1921 and was nominated for a Rhodes scholarship. On leaving the university, Mr. Peart was appointed junior science master at Nelson College, and while there in 1924 he was chosen to play in the All Black trials. At the end of that year he entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. with honours in 1926. At Cambridge he played in the University fifteen. In 1926 Mr. Peart became physics master at Epsom. College, which was founded by Royal Charter in 1855. YVhile a master there he became officer commanding the 0.T.C.. and was also in charge of the school’s Rugby football activities. In 1933 the Epsom College Council decided to create the position of second master and unanimously appointed Mr. Peart to that post. He graduated M.A in 1931.

Mr. and Mrs. Peart and ifamily left last night for Raglan, where Mr Peart’s mother resides. They will arrive at Auckland on Thursday next.