SMALL GIRLS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1914, Page 8

SMALL GIRLS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL

AN EDUCATION PROBLEM. " A broad educational principle and a particular case were introduced at the meeting of the Board of Governors of the Wellington Colleges to-day, by the following motion submitted by Mr. Robert Lee : — "That after December, 1914, no girl under 12 years of age who has not passed an examination qualifying her for a free place shall be admitted to the Wellington Girls' College." Mr. Lee said that at present there were two classes of 13 pupils under 12 years of age at the Girls' School. He believed it was desirable that there should be preparatory classes for girls going to the High School, but they were out of place in the present school. In looking into the question he found that according to the last New Zealand returns in 26 high schools of the class of the Wellington colleges in the Dominion with 2522 boys and 2250 girls, there were only 25 boys under the age of 12 and 48 girls of whom 22 at that time were at the Wellington Girls' High School. Apparently Wellington was the only one that deliberately set itself the task of carrying on a preparatory school. When they had such a demand for room he thought they should not do this. He agreed with preparatory work, but he did not think it was right in this case. Tiie practice had grown from a small beginning in Wellington, until now there were 26 pupils of preparatory grade. He did not wish to hurry the matter. His motion that the alteration take effect from -the end of the year would give parents ample notice. Later, if the funds were available they might establish a preparatory school. The Chairman (Mr. A. de B. Brandon) asked how many pupils could be accommodated if the preparatory classes were abolished. Was it not a fact that the rooms were not suitable for any except small girls? Mr. Le« replied that he took the view that preparatory pupils were out of place in a high, school. The Chairman said there was an educational argument against this. Where they had a number of short term pupils it was desirable that they should have pupils who started at an early age, and, by remaining longer, assisted in maintaining the character, tone, and traditions of the school. In the local circumstances, also, _ he doubted if, with the furniture necessary for bigger girls, they could make room for more than nine pupils by dispensing with the twenty-six smaller girls. There would thus be no material advantage, but, what was more important, they would lose wnat he considered a great advantage from the fact that the presence of infant girls in the school was an education to the older girls. In reply to Mr. Barber, it was stated that the junior pupils paid only half fees. The Chairman considered that though these fees were small, there was no lobs, as the teachers for the junior classes conld also assist with other work. Mr. Field held that if they had sufficient pupils coming forward they should have both a senior and a junior school. But, considering that the available accommodation could not be put to better advantage, he thought it would be better not to act at present. Mr. Barber said that he thought the High School should be maintained as such, and not extended 'to include preparatory pupils. He would second Mr. Lee's motion. Mr. Lee, in reply to a question by Mr. Ward whether the rooms could be utilised, said that in a good school small rooms could always be used for drafting small numbers of pupils, out of larger classes. Mr. Field moved, as an amendment: "While approving of the system of separate junior schools preparatory to High School teaching where the numbeF of pupils offering is sufficient, and where other circumstances are favourable, the board is of opinion that, under existing local conditions, in the case of the Wellington Girls' College no immediate! change is called for." He explained that, by separate schools, he meant that the schools should be distinct, though under the same principal. The amendment was carried by three votes to two.