TEACHERS OPPOSED TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6852, 6 March 1929, Page 6

TEACHERS OPPOSED TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

‘FRAUGHT WITH UNCERTAINTY.’ MOST URGENT NEED SMALLER CLASSES. Per Press Association. MASTERTON, March 4. At its meeting on Saturday tho Masteuton branch of the New Zealand Education Institute discussed tho junior high school system and unanimously adopted the following rdsolution to be transmitted all other branches of tho institute: “That as, in .the opinion of this branch, the junior high school system is fraught with uncertainty, inasmuch as the system has not been thoroughly tested and educationists differ as to its supposed benefits, we are of tho opinion, that articulation between primary and secondary education can better be secured by more generous staffing in tho primary schools, thus tending to accelerate the progress of primary pupil.’’ In tho circular with which it is forwarding its resolution to the other branches the Masterton branch states that it wishes to emphasise “(1) that no full and authoritative report has yet appeared regarding the success of the junior high school system; (2) that tho most urgent need in the education system to-day is for a reduction in the size of classes, beginning with tho infant department; (3) that the proposed decapitation of tho schools will not tend to a reduction in the size of the classes; (4) that given classes of (say) 40 pupils the primary schools could, by accelerating the progress of tho brighter pupils, hand them over to a post-primary school at the age of 12 years with complete primary training; (5) that the new syllabus should be given a full and fair trial with the view to ascertaining whether better articulation cannot be 'secured between primary and secondary education than obtains at present.” Tho circular concludes: “This branch is firmly of the opinion that the best interests of the child can be secured by retaining him in a smaller and more efficiently taught class in the primary school and will be glad of the support of other branches in, the matter,’