Tagging Interm. Schools As “Luxurious Transit Camps” Resented

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23298, 6 July 1950, Page 2

Tagging Interm. Schools As “Luxurious Transit Camps” Resented

AUNCKLAND, July 5.

What right had the representatives of secondary schools to set themselves up as in inquiry committee and enter intermediate schools to make reports and- policy recommendations? Mr. D. W. Rutledge askect this in an urgent question at today’s meeting of the Auckland Education Board. Mr. Rutledge said the principals, teachers and committee members of intermediate schools were very concerned at drastic criticism that had been levelled against them, particularly by the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Association. One delegate at an association conference recently even dared to call intermediate schools “luxurious transit camps.” Mr. Rutledge said the secondaryschools conference had appointed a sub-committee to “consider the position of intermediate schools as now affecting post-primary education and make recommendations on policy.” What right, he asked, had these people to appoint such committees? The chairman, Mr. G. K. Hamilton, said the position of the intermediate schools was being considered ijff the Education Department. w The chairman ruled that no one had authority to enter schools without the board’s authority. He promised that copies of a letter from the Kowhai Intermediate School committee—received too late for today’s agenda—-would be sent to members before the next board meeting.