JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 18 July 1929, Page 9

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

TAR ANAKI BOARD’S OPINION. NEW MOVE NOT FAVOURED.PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. The subject of junior high schools is creating much discussion all over the Dominion and has received much atr tention from members o,f the Taranaki Education Board. At yesterday’s meeting, after a lull discussion of the question, the following motion was carried :

“That in view of the lack of information about the working of the existing junior high schools in Now Zealand, this board considers the Minister of Education should, before making further extension of the system, issue for the information of the public and for the consideration of educational bodies a statement indicating (a) the benefits that may accure to the pupils attending such schools ; (b) the general courses that may be followed in such schools; (e) reasons why such a system as the ‘advanced: divisions’ of the Scottish education. system should, not lie adopted in New Zealand.’’

i Speaking as mover of the motion, Mr lA. Lees said that lie had brought up the question in order to .find out where the board stood; and that he considered the reason given for the holding up of > tain works had been that the future policy of the: department in this respect had not yet been decided upon. A resolution from the board might have the effect of hurrying things up. The new system had been given various names and had been put forward by the syllabus revision committee, which had sat for two years, as an educational measure to improve existing conditions. It. seemed to him a big question and, although it had proved successful in closely populated areas, he did not think’ the time was opportune to establish it throughout the Dominion, especially as there was no definite statement as to its success or otherwise.

1 There was nothing which it. was proposed should be done at the new schools that could not be. done in the primary schools, provided the requisite facilities were given in regard, to. staffing. There was 310 country that -svas eo. -well off in regal'd to secondary education as New Zealand. He believed that the addition of a Standard VTI would fulfil the conditions without extra expense and an advanced division similar to that m operation in Scotland. They should concentrate on improving the primary schools. It- was estimated that the cost of the new system would be n<> less than £750,000, and what extra money could be- secured would be far better used in the primary schools in staffing and pi’oviding better conditions generally.

DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS

There was> still divergence of opinion among the authorities, he said, and the late Director of Education, Mr Caughley, who: hiad done mudi in getting the Kowhai Junior High School started, was not now in favour of that type. Teachers’ institutes condemned. it and contended that work wa s carried out just as effectively in primary schools. The system, Mr Lees admitted, was possible in the towns, hut it would prove al costly experiment in the oountry. If opinion was unanimous that the system was beneficial then the cost need not be considered. The district high schools, lie added, were doing excellent work to-day and gave many scholars a. chance to put in an additional year or two at school before finishing their education. One of the objects of the junior high school system was to find out what vocation the pupils were fitted for.

In seconding the- motion, Mr J. A. Valentino typified the existing junior high schools' in New Zealand jind said that generally he was in favour of the change which would he a. benefit to the primary schools. The junior high school, Mr Valentine said, provided a different environment and the stimulus of numbers, which meant more competition. It provided| the courses that best suited the child’s educational needs and . the special means of developing a pupil’s interest together with others .of a common age. The courses it provided could not be given in the present primary schools on account of the. expense. “Our education system in the past lias been successful,” admitted Mr Valentine, “but then it tended to mass production. This new educational method is going to do more for the present day child than its . forefather had the opportunity of obtaining.” Dr. AY. M. Thomson said the principle was undoubtedly a good one when -there was a. large population to draw from. It meant hotter conditions for the Child and (better facilities for teaching. The danger of it lay in tire fact- that the hoards were more concerned in the primary schools themselves and the present evils of understaffing might | also apply. PROAtI SFfS OV EHDU E. In congratulating Mr Lees on bringing tile motion forward, Mr P. J. H. White, the acting-ehainnan, said it was | high time some forward move was de-| cidod upon in stabilising the method of education to be followed. For some years Ministers and officials bad promised that in a. few months they would perfect a system, but sp. far little bad been done. New Zealand should move forward to. the ideal, said Mr White, but it was laced with the problem of sparse population, and be thought to adopt the type of junior high school advocated by Sir James Parr and Air Cougbley would mean' the establishment of a dual system of education. A great deal more could he done to fit the young teachers? to take more secondary work in the primary schools and thus, in the. course of a few years, with the young teachers going through the training schools, most’country schools would be equipped to take secondary subjects. OPINION OF INSPECTOR.

The hoard’s senior inspector,. Mr N. R. McKenzie, stated that during the course of his travels abroad he had had numerous opportunities of studying the question. He had seen the system in operation in Australia, in Canada and in a number of the American States. He had n» doubt whatever of the value of the work, hut he could foresee two difficulties to. its application in New Zealand. Firstly, there was the question of finance and expenditure which would have to he faced sooner or later. Secondly, it would he a difficult matter to. obtain a supply of suitable teachers, as specialisation was needed in such schools.

In country places the separate junior high school was out of the question, and what would have to be done at places like New Plymouth, Ha worn and Stratford wais to combine them with the existing secondary schools. In other districts schools of the district high school type might have to be established. In the newer systems in England it was the custom to promote a pupil according to ago instead of attainment. The New Zealand Educational Institute at its last annual meeting had definitely

favoured the adoption of the three types of junior high schools, a separate smaller type big for communities and the smaller places. There was ample evidence of the. success of the scheme in Auckland. In country districts the sizes of classes would be automatically reduced and wide adjustments! would, have to he made. The. motion was then put and carried.