SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 10

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

FREE PLACE STUDENTS. educationaiTfacilities FOR ALL. [Special to the * Stab.'] CHBISTGHORCH, March 8. Interesting figures as to the email number of secondary school pupils who aro not free place students were quoted by the Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A- Hanan). In his days, said the Minister, the gTeat majority of h:gh school pupils were sons or daughters of wealthy parents. Unless ho could win a scholarship a pooi- bov was denied the benefits of higher education. To-day probably GO per cent, of the children attending the secondary schools of the Dominion wcro sons and'duughters of the working clasae3. lie had taken out figures which showed the position to-day. Mr G. "Witty. M.l\ : "Why should tiny have to pay? : 'Well,"said the Minister, "the reason hj I believe in higher education for those who are likely to profit, by it. I believe u givin.g the boy every chance to develop the highest and best that is in him. illcar. hear.) But 1 believe in civing-the .-.nne kind of food to all kinds of animals; /■••mo would profit by it and some would i. it. What 1 v.-ant to do in this country :.- to give « chance to the boy whoso : i.iiitv is above the average; hut we know that every boy is not above the w't-a-ee." Pit>eeeding. Mr Hanan explained that that had been one of the i aeons for differentiating between the ai.daid of examinations for free places i high and n chin al m, hools by placing .-Idler entrance, test on the high school, ■ that it would rocoive only those pupils i i-t Hkelv to bene'it liv what it could se thorn*. For the. hoy of ;i sli-fhtly- '' vH' otandard the technical t-ehool <a•red well. Then there were increased i-ot rt'itiitie-5 iVr th,,.se poorer .students .ho wished to go stiil higher. In 1897 'heie had been only between 40 and 50 "> o students attending their university i,.1 train.tiir eol'ege-,. in 191? there tied i 'en I.CCO. That w;ts illustrative of the bcral facilities, niuili th.s country plowed for the higher education of her - I'.*, .'.rd daughter.-, o; the present day ornaments in all of the professions \ ere the sons and daughters of working • f-ople. All honor to them.