TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4593, 19 May 1922, Page 4

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 17. A conforencj of technical educa-/ tional directors, supervisors, boards of managers and teachers is also now sitting here. Mr W. F. Durward was elected president for the enguing year. The iotiriig president (Air Newton), of the Napier Technical College gave an address., mostly devoted to the reorganisation of the primary and secondary education. It was a defect of our 1 system that the average age at which pupils begin thei rsocondary work is two years higher than in any other progressive country. The tendency is towards prolongation rather than shortening the period of elementary training. During the discussion on. post primary education, numerous motions were passed, including the following (moved by Air W. H. Bennct): "That in order to provide most favourable conditions for fostering the growth of the spirit of co-operation and loyalty, our system of sducatlon should be so organised that no break occurs in the secondary school period by passage from one school to another. To secure this: (a) a senior high school should have a junior high school as part of its organisation, or should provide a course of at least four years commencing with the junior high school second year course; (b) where junior high schools are established as educational units, separate from primary school and from senior high school, it is desirable that as soon as the growth of population allows the senior high school courses shall be aded to the curriculum until the full six year course is provided by school; (c) where junior high school exist as separate units, pupils qualifying for secondary education at an age below', normal should be encouraged to enrol at the high school, providing both junior and senior courses, v;liile pupils qualifying for secondary education more than one year later than normal age should be encouraged to attend a separate high school providing for both senior and junior courses, unless parents are prepared to give a guarantee that the pupil will remain at school until at least one year after the senor course has been taken." The conference also expressed the opinion that the primary course should be determind by the attainment that could reasonably be expected of pupils who have completed their twelfth year.