JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 245, 29 September 1922, Page 6

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

MR CAUGHLEY REPLIES TO CRITICISM. EDUCATION BOARD’S DECISION. Wellington, Sept. 29. Replying to the discussion on junior high schools at the Education Board’s Conference, Air Caughley said several points were badly confused and he suggested that the conference should express an opinion on the merits, which was the main feature. The gap between primary and secondary schools had never liven bridged, and if the position was not remedied by junior high schools, how was it to be done? In Auckland children were falling over themselves to get to new schools. His reply to the question why did they not perfect the present system wns that they could not perfect a system which was fundamentally wrong. If pupils could go on in junior high schools un a differentiated course ,senior and technical schools would be combined, as they differed only in about three subjects. Junior high schools would have three-fifths of the curriculum common to all pupils, and the remainder would be specialised. The proposal was not an experiment. New Zealand was ten years behind other countries, and was the only one who made no provision for connection. He thought the question oof expense unduly stressed. It was suggested that tho words, “that nothing further be done until the Director of Education visited Great Britain to make inquiries,’’ be added to Mr Wallace’s amendment. This was agreed to and the remit in this form was carried unanimously.