JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 24 March 1926, Page 6

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

SIR JAMES PABB ADVOCATES SYSTEM AT BLENHEIM.

(By Tele<ra])h.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, 23ra March. Complying with the expressed wish of the meeting, Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, made reference to the junior high school system in the course of his reply to a ciyi^ welcome last evening at the Council Chambers. The Minister very/forcibly recommended the adoption of the system. Following a short discussion, the gathering : showed entire unanimity in passing a . resolution that a junior high school be established at an early date. Sir James traversed, in an interesting manner, facts about the junior high schools which have already been mado familiar. The new system, he said, meant reducing the wastage of pupils time and energies, and resulted in a better product of education. It offerod a wide variety Of courses, and by pro-. ! viding for manual work enabled even ♦'dull Toms" to enjoy school life* and benefit. Junior high schools were, he believed, in the children 's interests, and its adoption should not be barred because a school committee might be shorn of a little dignity, and so on. He must insist, moat emphatically, that the children's interests must come first, and before the Government, Minister, boards, committees, or teachers. Practically every country in the world had adopted the intermediate system, and could New Zealand say they were all wrong and she alone was right? "If you take my advice.you won't waste a minute's time arguing about it," said Sir James. "You will grip it with both hands. That, however, is a matter for you to decide. I am not going to do anything one way or the , other, as it is your concern. I told , Mr. Girling that if you desire the new system I would make it the final act of my administration, to bring it about for you." The meeting unanimously decided that it did want the system at the earliest possible opportunity.