JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 June 1925, Page 7

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

There is no doubt of the enthusiasm of' Mr Caughley, Director of Education, for his scheme of junior high schools. Since the new idea—for New Zealand—was first seriously considered by the conference held in Wellington three yt ars ago he has been indefatigable in preaching its advantages. One point must freely he allowed to him. There is genetal agreement now. in a:I conn tries, that the time at which secondary education should commence so that it may have least difficulty for the pupil is .about, the age of twelve years, and not fourteen. At the earlier, not the latter, age, the the child begins to merge into the youth, and information of new kinds can be best assimilated by him. At the age of 12. therefore, the child, who has years of schooling stiil before him. should he f< rilling his first gradual acquaintance with French, Latin, and other secondary subjects, instead of waiting, as lie usually does now. for another two years. and then being plunged into them at the risk of a numbing shock being produced instead r.l exhilaration. All that being granted, it is somewhat dilftcult to see whv a new system of intermediate schools should he thought, necessary for the making of the change required.—Dunedin Star.