PROLONGING SCHOOLDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 10

PROLONGING SCHOOLDAYS.

There is much to be said for the spending of a post-matriculation year at a secondary school, a practice strongly advocated by the headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School at the annual prize-giving. It certainly has a salutary effect upon the school. The older pupils, coming to years when a sense of responsibility is deepening, exercise a steadying and inspiring influence by their example and service. Thenjuniors are impressed as they sec discipline honoured by those who are still scholars. They are encouraged to qualify for like distinction in their turn. And, other things being equal, the older these senior scholars are, the greater will be the beneficial influence they wield. The result in the characters and careers of those remaining for the extra year is also calculated to be advantageous. In that year of adolescence, when life's limits are being rapidly extended and its powers increase by leaps and bounds, to be entrusted with duty and leadership is pricelessly helpful in tho cultivation of initiative, selfreliance and respect for social good ; and, since moral qualities are of greater importance than physical or intellectual in any worthy scheme of education, this gain is ons greatly to be valued. It may be objected that the retarding of entry to university life or to occupations as a means of livelihood is harmful. That is not so, in any sense meriting serious consideration. University studies are frequently taken up at too young an age. Eligible to matriculate at sixteen, the scholar is then too illequipped to appreciato many subjects —economics and philosophy may be cited as typical of such sub jects—dealt with from an adult point of view. A little more practical experience of life and a little more preparation under secondaryschool guidance would make the university years.more profitable. There are instances innumerable of graduates bemoaning that they undertook university studies before they were able to profit fully .by. them. As for those to whom the matriculation test is in practice a leaving examination, a finish to their education, although they too will suffer a retarding of their careers, the ultimate gain should far outweigh any such loss. Parents will do well to take Mr. Drummond's plea to heart. Whatever be entailed —and the economic pressure that hastens the end of schooldays is not forgotten— the greatest kindness that parents can show to their children is the giving to them of the utmost preparation possible, whether for the university or the workaday world.