CONTINUATION CLASSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14473, 13 September 1910, Page 6

CONTINUATION CLASSES.

AN EDUCATIONIST'S VIEW.

[BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.}

Wellington, Monday. Some interesting observations on tho subject of the proposal to develop in New Zealand a system of-continuation classes were made by Mr. W. S. La Trobe, director of the Wellington. Technical School, when discussing the question with a reporter. Mr. La Trobe staled that he considered the proposed continuation instruction hardly second in importance even to primany education. " The point of the whole thing is," he said, " that boys and gins leaving school at tho age of 13 or 14 usually do not take up any trado or permanent occupation for another two years at least. Meantime, they, in most cases, deteriorate rapidly, forgetting what they have been taught, and learning little that, will be of use to them in after life, unless their parents take in hand the task of continuing their education. On tho influence of parents it is impossible in this case to rely. The country would profit if it paid the parents of boys the five shillings or so a week they may earn in the year or two following their departure from tho primary schools, and sent them again to school.

'" Tho question of compulsory continuation classes," Mr. La Tvobo continued, " has come at length on its merits. The proposal is so obviously sound that it is bound to come into prominence sooner or later. When parents come to recognise sts merits it will certainly elicit their approval."