THE HIGH SCHOOL MOVEMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 171, 30 July 1901, Page 4

THE HIGH SCHOOL MOVEMENT.

REPLY FROM THE COLLEGE GOVERNORS.

The following is Lhe full text of tii reply sent by the College Governors to the Minister for Education (a copy being also sent to the Nelson Education Board) in answer to lhe inqui y as to what facilities they were prepared to offer in respect to lh« extension of secondary educaton, in lieu of the establishment of a District High School in Nelson :— " College Office, July 6tb, 1901. •' The Honourable the Minister o£ Education, Wellington. i " Sir,— l am direoted by tbe Council of Governors of the Nelson College to reply to Sir E. C. Gibbs' letter of the 13th uit. with reference to the proposed establishment of Listrict High Schools in the City of Nelson in connection with the Boys' Central School and Girls' School at Toi Toi Valley, and inviting Governors to take the matter into consideration, and to advise what facilities they are prepared to give towards placing a certain amount of free secondary education within tbe reach of all children tbat pass Standard VI. in the public schools. 'Sir Edmund Gibbs' letter enclosed a circular recently eddressed to Educational Boards with regard to the establishment of District High Schools and the payment of subsidies for scholars taught therein. The Governors do not clearly gather from it what these total subsidies will amount to per pupil ; they are informed, however, by the Hon. Colonel Pitt that he learns from you that you have no power to pay the fees (whatever they may be) mentioned in I this circular, but only to Education Boards, and to them only if tbey establish High Schools. The Govornors therefore propose now to reply as if the circular did not exist. "The Governors have for years past cooperated with the Education Board of this district so as, within the means at their disposal, to offer to deserving Board scholars the opportunity of obtaining the advantages of higher education, and with this object have given and now give 14 scholarships entitling each holder to free edjeation at tbe Boys' College, and 11 at the Girls' College ; whilst the Education Board, in precisely the same spirit, have given four scholarships covering both board and tuition at the Boya' College, and three at the Girls' College. The School Commissioners also grant free education at the Girls' College to four pupils from the Board schools. "In all, therefore, there are at this moment 29 day scholars and seven boarders from the Board schools educated at the two Nelson Colleges free of all cost to themselves, and this in addition to foundation scholarships open to all students at the Colleges. The Governors point with some pride to the long list of distinguished men who, coming from tbe Board schools, have received their education at and won honors from the Nelson College. " The Governors moreover have the keenest desire to extend these advantages, so far as their funds will permit, and SO long as the objects for which the College wus founded and exists are properly carried out. " In cider to keep up to the standard set by tl.e other secondary schools of the Colony it is necessary to provide and pay for a stafl of teachers of the highest qualifications, playing fields, gymnasium, and otber facilit es for physical training, buildings of sufficient size and convenience, and food and house comforts at least equal to those found in the boarders' homes. " The Governors bave latciy added to tleir buildings at a cost of JL 18-51, and thu growth of tbe institution now compels them to add still further at an anticipa:ed cost of £1200, which laft additions will include a carpenter's shop, and technical and science schools under the recent Act, the advantages of which tbey propose to open to tbe Board Teachers, whilst further heavy outlay looms in the near future for levelling the playground, house accommodation for masters, a swimming bath, et •, " Including all sources of income, but not charging capital out ay upon the com pleted improvements just referred to, the institution was worked last year at a net profit of £5',)2 ; and should this rate of profit be maintained, which, having regard to the falling rate of in teres; upon investments, is at least doub ful, their surplus revenue is still pledged for necessary impiovemenis and replacements for several years to come. " The Governors l'eel that the advantages offered by the Nelson College to the youth of both sexes fur their education, bolh in the narrower and also in the wider and more liberal acceptance of the term, cannut le boped or expected from a Dis'rict High School, wiih its necessarily limited staff and paucity of pupils, and without the tone, esprit de corps, or surroundings which give so deep a value to a life at a good public school. Tbe establishment of a District High Scheol in Nelson therefore would condemn all the best Board gcholars to a dwarfed and stunted secondary eduoation, and, without giving them what they want, would deprive the Nelson College of a large numterof its best ani most promising pupils, and greatly damaue its usefulness. To avert so great a blow to the cause of education in this District, and recognising the desire on the part of some of the Board scholars for secondary education, the Governoi'3 now submit the following proposal : — They will admit to the whole benefits of education at the College, fifty day scholars (2-5 girls and 25 boys) to be Selected by examination from pupils who shall have passed the tith Standard, aud have teen at a Board school in any part of $he District for not less than twelve months, upon payment of one- half of the present sctiocl fees, viz., £5 5s per annum, each pnpil to be styled an Exhibitioner, and to remain at least one year at the College. Whether the subsidy proposed in the circular to the Education Boards amounts to £9 15s per annum, as appears to be the case, or to the leaser sum of £6 15s (i.e. £2 plus statutory capitation of £3 los) the fee or subsidy the Governors now propose is less ti an that suggested to be paid for what rnusn, under any circumstances, be admitted to be an inferior system of education. " The advantages the Governors are now proposing shah be in addition to the scholarships given by the Council, and the Education Board, both of whicb are to be maintained, and tho Governors, should the suggested limit of 50 additional pupils be reached, will then consider the possibility of building additional class rooms to accommodate a practically unlimited number upon a similar ba&is. " The Governors oncj more deprecate most earnestly tbe establishment of any rival secondary school in a small town like Nelson, believing as they do that such a sci 00l would injitself offer oi ly a delusive sui [ stitute for the really higher euueation which it would hinder tho S:a.e scholars from , getting, and while doing little good itself, would seriously Damage the Nelson College I and the great work which they venture to I say is now well Carried out. I " I have, etc., I J. Hollo wav, Secretary."