SECONDARY EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 6

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

THE QUESTION" OF FREE PUPILS.

At the meeting: of flu- Auckland Grammar School Board of Governors, held yesterday, the secretary (Mr. V". W. Kiddi reported there were 160 junior free pupi!:-, or holders of junior tp-n place certificate?, and 82 seniors, who were entitled K> a free place at the Auckland (Grammar Svlio-.ii. The junior* consisted of six national scholarship pupil?, five Girls' High School scholars. 55 district scholars, and 113 national free places. The 82 seniors were made up of 53 Govern met free places, six Education Board, and 12 district scholars. Besides these 17 applications had been received by him from pupils over 14 years of age. applying for admission, nuclei their proficiency certificates.

The Chairman (Sir (J. M. O'ltorke) said the Board was entitled to grant admission to the extent of 10 per cent, of the total pupils to those over 14 years of ago. The Board would bo able to grant something like 30 free places to those over 14 years, but so far onlv 17 applications had been received. Mr. J. W. Tibbs (headmaster) stated that formerly the regulations directed that tkft.o pupils who presented themselves first should be admitted, on the basic of first come first served. On Monday next, when the school opened, he anticipated receiving a large number of applicants, both over. and under 14 years of age. It was obvious tu him they would not be able to take in all the applicants, and some further provision, than that now existing, would have to be made. He suggested that an examination should be held of all those candidates who had not passed the national or district scholarship examination, and that the applicants be admitted in order o£ merit. He had consulted Mr. Hogben, of the Education Department, and the latter stated it was the Department's desire that the pupils over 14- years of ago. for whom there was room in the school, should be selected from the children in the back blocks, and not those in the town. In reply to: a question Mr. Tibbs said lip saw no reason to differ from that suggestion. The Hoard decided, on the suggestion of the headmaster, that an examination should be held of those pupils, othci. than th« holders of national and district scholarships, who held proficiency certificates, on Mondaj next, at ten o'clock, at the Grammar School.