POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 144, 15 December 1927, Page 8

POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL

VALUE OF ONE YEAR

OFFICIAL PAMPHLET

CRITICISED

The publication of a statement by the Education. Department that "nothing can be more futile than to send a child for not more than a year to a postprimary school," was . criticised by Mr. J. H. Howell, Director of the Wellington Technical College, when speaking at the college prize-giving ceremony to-day. ° ° .'

"The Education Department has taken a wise step in placing before parents and teachers valuable information regarding: post-primary schools, conditions for free places, ■ and the choice of a career,'.' said Mr.' Howell. The pamphlet contains for the iriosf part information relative to the professions and trades, giving some indication of the demand in each, the requirements, prospects of advancement, and remuneration. The publication will be welcomed on all sides, but it is unfortunate that it is marred by a statement that, in the judgment of those who have had experience of technical schools, is quite contrary to fact." Commenting on tae statement quoted, Mr. Howell said: "It is well known that approximately one-half of the pupils who enrol at the Technical High School leave at the end of the year to take up employment, and many of these continue their education in the evening school It is clear that the Department itself must recognise that a one-year courtse in a day school is of value, or it would never have allowed the technical high schools to take pupils for one year only. As a matter of fact, a one-year course in the. day school is of considerable importance to those who are continuing in the evening school, since it lays a foundation under specialist instructors and in favourable environment for the technical instruction to be given . later.' It is surely obvious that a boy who gives five hours to mathematics, five hours to drawing, and five hours to workshop is in a much better position to profit by evening school instruction than a boy who has gone to work without these. It is, of course, most desirable that a pupil should have a post-primary course of three years, but unfortunately many parents cannot afford to keep their children at school for this length of time, and it is undoubtedly in the interest of the child that he should not be thrown upon the labour market at this early age-. I trust that before copies of the pamphlet are distributed nest year the Minister will see his way to have this statement erased." i

- \The members of the Fire Brigade desire to acknowledge a donation of £2 2s to their Christmas fund from Mr. D. E. Wilkie, chairman of the Fire Board.