PRIMARY SCHOLARS AND RONGOTAI COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 18, 21 July 1932, Page 10

PRIMARY SCHOLARS AND RONGOTAI COLLEGE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In your account of the deputation to the Education Board, I am reported as referring to the boys who arc not transferred to Rongotai College as "the duds." Without the context, this gives a wrong impression, and I will be glad it" you will correct it by publishing letter.

The pbsiti6n is that, for various reasons, parents elect to keep their.boys at the primary schools'. Some> intend them to follow with technical training, and their timo would be wasted by transfer; some prefer the environment of the primary school, while others cannot see their way to incirt the extra expense entailed, which is considerable, in sending their boys to the college. , ". ■/■ . There are boys'remaining at the primary schools who would benefit by removal to Rongotai—conversely, there 'are boys at itongotai Who would have been better left in their old schools; ': ■':' '.'

The reference to, "duds" was to give some idea of the impression , created amongst the comtnunity, which-is. .detrimental to the boys concerned. That this term is a misnomer, the records of the proficiency ; results obtained at the. primary schools in the Eastern Suburbs will show, and we are proud of the boys who are allowed to stay with us. The. whole position, as pointed out by the deputation, is anomalous.—l am, etc.,

P. H. PORTER, Chairman, Kilbirnie School Committee,