ONLY GLORIFIED KINDERGARTENS!

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6865, 21 March 1929, Page 7

ONLY GLORIFIED KINDERGARTENS!

Fate of Primary Schools IF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE ESTABLISHED SOUTHLAND’S OBJECTIONS. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. This aftornoon a deputation froip the Gore and Invercargill school committees association ryaited upon tho Ministor of Education (Hon. H. A. Atmore) with referenco to the proposed introduction in Southland of junior high schools. Mr. A. W. Jones, retiring president of tho South Island Federation of School Committees Associations, briefly explained the object of the deputation. There was a feeling existing, he said, that tho proposal involved compulsory mass transference of standards V. and VL pupils from the primary schools, to junior high schools and the federation was of the opinion that that would have a weakening effect upon the primary schools. The opinion was hold generally that the introduction of junior high schools was too costly an experiment for the country to indulge in. If standards V. and VL were removed from the primary schools only a glorified kindergarten would bo left. Mr Jones stated that tho federation felt that if any extra money was available for education purposes it should be utilised in the many avenues offered by primary schools. Mr. D. Dickie, speaking on behalf of the district of Gore and Southland branch of tho Farmers’ Union, said that their opinion was summed up in tho following resolution passed by the executive of the union: “That we strongly oppose the introduction of any educational system of methods that will have the effect of weakening our primary schools or will result in any curtailment of their functions; that, as the general introduction of junior high schools on the lines proposed will inevitably have this effect we must oppose the introduction of tho system; further that the difficulties arising in tho transfer of pupils from primary to secondary schools should be overcomo by an amendment of the syllabus of tho the secondary schools as well as that of the primary. The Minister, in reply, said that he was pleased to have met them as so many misconceptions existed as to the need for alterations. Objections, were raised to any alterations in the primary school system, but a radical change was necessary as the interests of a great mass of children were concerned. Ho had been in touch with education for a long time in all its forms. Cost was cited as a principal objection to the introduction of junior high schools. It it were desired in Southland that no change should be made the matter would bo held over to a later date. It was, obvious, however, that some change was necessary. In the North Island he was beseiged with applications for junior higft schools so that it was difficult to understand the attitude of those who were against any change. New Zealand was at present behind the Old Country in matters of education although for some time previously it had led. People were paying for post-primary education to-day and although the nation was gaining tho country people were not getting benefits they should get if a change were made. The matter of cost in connection with the introduction of junior high schools had been gono into carefully and tho last report he received stated that the entire cost of the new system would bo found to be negligible. The Minister stated that many who formerly were bitter opponents of the scheme were now Rmong its heartiest supporters. The president of tho N.Z. Farmers 'union had said that Mr Atmore was the right man in the right position because he was endeavouring to introduce junior high schools. Mr Jones thanked Mr Atmoro for his address.