TAKING DOWN ANOTHER EDUCATIONAL HURDLE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2313, 4 December 1925, Page 7

TAKING DOWN ANOTHER EDUCATIONAL HURDLE

Course Already Easy Enough for Buffers YOUTH OF COUNTRY HAS EVERY OPPORTUNITY [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. In replying to a deputation which waited upon him from the Technical College Board of Governors, Sir James Parr (Minister of Education) said that those pupils who were not capable of passing the test to gain for themselves free secondary education would, in his opinion, not bonent from such a course were it open to them. One of the requests of the cleputatlor was that the fees for instruction at College should be reduced. "I think that any boy who can’t pass the proficiency! examination in this country is a duffer,” said Sir James. “He must be. My dilficulty in acceding to your request is that the people fo- >vbon vou ask these cdpccssions are not adults, who, not having had the advantages of education in their youth are now trying to bettor themselves, but these are young people who have had every opportunity and have failed. I have every sympathy with adults who have novor had a chance, but with those young people it is different. They, as I have said, have had every opportunity and have failed to pass the test. You are asking me to throw open the secondary schools to cnild. ron who, in my opinion, would not benefit from a secondary course.’’ Sir James said that ho would go into the matter carefully before coming to any decision. Sir James also paid a visit of inspection to the open air schools at Linwood, Cashmere .and Fonda”on, and in the afternoon he left for Methven, to attend an entertainment tendered to Mr D. Jones, M.P. To-morrow learning ho will visit Methven school and confer with the committee, and he will also meet the Mt. Hutt Road Board, Sir James is expected back in Christchurch at about 1 p.m,, and will receive a, deputation from the open air schools’ council. At 3 p.m. he is to open the now Post. Office at New Brighton.