Junior High Schools

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 244, 28 September 1922, Page 5

Junior High Schools

INNOVATION SEVERELY CRITICISED. AT EDUCATION BOARD CONFERENCE. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, Sept. 28. The junior high school project was severely criticised by some speakers at the Education Boards conference today, fjn the Wanganui remit, which describes the scheme as unjustified at present, when the Government found it necessary to reduce salaries and grants. f Mr. Durward, in moving the remit, said the plan was insufficiently dbcussed and boards werb not consulted. Other organisations anxious to improve education haxl protested. The pioposnl, he said, was such as to be expected from a Minister who marched through the country conscripting the youth of the country, then returned to Wellington to draw up a Napoleonic code. Mr. Andrens (Christchurch) said the scheme involved inestimable eX]>enne. He considered Mr. arguments unconvincing. The effect be to rob primary schools of headmasters and leave them with second-rgta Mr. Purdie (Auckland) disagreed with these views. Unless educatinn was taken in hand, the civilisation of the world would be sone. Any proposal to improve the New Zealand system should be welcomed. The scheme should not be objected to* oh the score of expense. Its value would far exceed the extra cost. Mr. Wallace (Otago) moved as an amendment that the Minister be recommended not to proceed further with the plan until post-primary schools had been proved a success. The discussion is proceeding.