SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 43, 19 August 1930, Page 14

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

WHAT ABOUT OUR GIHLS?

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TIMAEU, 18th August.

Reporting on the second portion of the report of the Education Kecess 'Committee to the monthly meeting of the Timaru High Schools Board to-day, Miss J. E. Barr, principal of the Girls' High School, said the report had not been forwarded to these schools. Upon so quick a.perusal as had been possible it would be unwise to express an opinion on most of the points discussed in the report.. One gathered, however, that high schools were the ugly ducklings of the educational institutions, and the, description given of them on page 13 of the "report made excellent, if somewhat startling, reading. "I searched in vain for an opinion of at least one of our secondary headmistresses. It iSt,astonishing, to say the least of it, that the opinions of so.large a section 6f,the system should have been'ignored. Surely the natural equivalent to an agricultural bias in boys' schools is n domestic one in the girls' schools, yet .it, is surprising especially in a report"with such a strong male bias .'is this ono shows, that no"mention is made of this section of our curriculum. I should have liked, luo, to reail tluit Hie heads of secondary schools were fo bo given ;i free hand in the (•.ompilotion of the school syllabus. We are much more closely 4'A- toweh ■ with, boys a«d girls . than

is the.Department,.consequently we understand. bettor their needs and capabilities. Together with most of the heads of high schools, I shall be very sorry indeed if the proposed changes in tiio system'of management and control are carried into effect."

Thu lector of the boys' school (Mr. AY. Thomas) stated that the report hud just come to hand, and he was' able to inaku only passing comment. 'With sonic of its proposals, which already hiid been embodied in thu report of tho primriry school syllabus committee, he was in sympathy. Other rovolutionary proposals, however, dealt, so vital a blow at their freedom'of control th;it if carried into effect, then- typo _ of si'hool, would completely lose its individuality- The work of _ fifty years would lie ns nothing. He urged the Board of Governors an.d the Old Boys' Asspci.ition to give very careful consideration to tho report.