EDUCATION REFORM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 March 1923, Page 10

EDUCATION REFORM

COMBINING TECHNICAL AND } HIGH SCHOOLS FUSION EXPECTED SHORTLY A general discussion of the possibility of combining the high school and technical school into one institution in towns of intermediate size, such as Hamilton. Napier, Timaru, New Plymouth and Masterton, without detriment to either course of instruction, and probably with some advantage to each, has been going on between the Education Department and the authorities of those schools. As a result, fusion is expected shortly. Mr .J. Caughley, Director of Education, has returned from Hamilton, where he addressed the high school board and technical advisory board authorities on the subject of fusion. In conversation with a Dominion reporter on Wednesday, Mr Caughley staled that the matter had already been discussed at other towns. No definite decision had yet been arrived at. but the preliminary discussions by bodies representing all educational institutions Showed that a great many misgivings regarding such amalgamation had disappeared on a full consideration of the subject, and that there would be pracficsilly very few difliculties to meet in effecting a solution. In one centre it is understood that the final settlement of the details has almost been completed, and that an amalgamation will possibly take place at an early date. CLASS DISTINCTION The day school system has gradually 'developed in technical schools, owing to the desire of pupils to follow a commercial career rather than an academic ;one, and they were, said Mr Caughley, becoming somewhat too technical, and the academic schools too academic. There were growing up in the "intermediate" towns two rival systems, which was undesirable. At the present day, the technical system need not excuse itself, as it had been fully justified. The feeling was becoming general that the two systems would not run separately, but that all the pupils should be taught in the one institution. In a democratic country like New Zealand, if was a bad thing to see growing up, as there undoubtedly was at present, a class distinction between the pupils of the secondary and the technical institutions. There was a tendency for the pupils of the latter to be looked down upon as people who were going to work, as it were. He was satisfied that in the high schools themselves there was no distinction in this respect; all were treated on a common basis. He thought present-day authorities would be sowing a good deal of trouble for the adults of the future unless they did away with this feeling. There was a wrong assumption abroad that the test of intelligence was an academical education; the amount of skill and science required to excel in any trade necessitated a thoroughly sound education on broad lines. j ADVANTAGE OF FUSION The department could not get the same brains and elasticity of staff under the present dual system, continued the director, as would be available to it if the two institutions were amalgamated. At the same time, lie did not think a school should grow beyond 600 pupils; when it did it was time to establish another secondary school, for convenience and better distribution. The proposed board of management would consist of members of both existing boards. The amalgamation would result in great saving in management expenditure, while there could be a much wider range of plant; there, would be no changing over of pupils, while the democratic spirit would be preserved, without the present inclination to specialise. Mr Caughley added that he was urging the representatives of both sides to discuss the whole question from the broad standpoint, and to try to come to an agreement as to the best form of education in the interests of the district.