JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 12

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

EDUCATION BOARD'S PROPOSALS [Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 13. When the new Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright) met the Council of Education he suggested that he would appreciate the council’s considered opinion upon the whole subject of junior high schools, which was coupled, lie pointed out, with the economic aspect of education, because the question would at once arise whether the country could nr could not afford such a radical change in the educational policy.

When the Education Council resumed its deliberations the chairman (Dr E. Marsden, assistant director of education) brought fonvard the subject for discussion. He said that it had been realised that it would take from seven to eight years to change over to the junior high school system, hut during the interregnum. much might be done to formulate a definite scheme of unification. There was time for experiment, and a start had been made by reorganising the secondary school examinations so as to provide for the gradually-broadening change towards a junior high school system/ Certain tentative proposals for the junior high school organisation having been formulated. the council went into committee to discuss them. A summary of these proposals is as follows

i To provide a suitable educational environment for children from twelve to sixteen years of age, such environment including a separate organisation with an enriched and reorganised curriculum and courses of study and methods of teaching peculiarly fitted to children of their age. I To explore the pupils’ interests, ap--1 titudes, and capabilities, and to provide for individual differences, demanding amongst other things a plastic curriculum.

To provide for the gradual transition to higher schools, thus retaining the pupils in school for a longer period, this necessitating the democratisatiou of educational 'opportunities. To provide pro-vocational curricula for pupils who mn«t leave school early. To enable pupils to explore major academic subjects and certain industries.

Finally, to provide earlier direct preparation for the limber education of pupils likely to continue in school.