INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21576, 22 August 1933, Page 11

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

CURTAILMENT OF COURSE KOWHAI PROTEST MADE THREE-YEAR SYSTEM URGED A protest against the curtailment of the junior high school course from three years to two was entered by a representative deputation which waited on the acth.g-Minister of Education, the Hon. J. Bitchener, yesterday, with particular reference to the effect of the policy on children attending the Kowhai Intermediate School. Mr. A. A. Buckley, chairman of the Kowhai school committee, said it was felt that evci'y intermediate school course should extend over three years. Failing that, ho asked that the Kowhai

courso should not bo curtailed. Tho school was an experimental one, which in tho past ten years bad fully justified its existence. Those who remained at the school for three years had shown in their subsequent careers at the grammar schools tho value of tho extra tuition received. Over 400 Children Affected Unless tho policy were reversed, between 400 and 450 children would bo affected. Many of them would not bo able to go to a secondary school in any case. Tho Education Committee appointed by Parliament several years ago had advocated that tho Kowhai system should operate throughout New Zealand, and it was felt tho Minister had not been well advised in reducing the length of the course. The representations were supported bj Mr. T. U. Wells, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, who mentioned that ho had inquired into tho system in tho United States, at the request of Sir James Parr, then Minister of Education, prior to tho establishment of the junior high schools in the Dominion. Tho three-year course had been adopted in most advanced countries.

Mr. J.- F. Wells, headmaster of tho school, and Mr. L. E. Falkner, chairman of tho Mount Eden school committee, stressed tho point that the abolition of the third-year courso would seriously affect tho future of children, whoso aptitudes were being discovered and whoso personalities were being developed mainly as a result of the third year's work. Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, M.P., and Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P., attended with tho deputation to signify their support of the case advanced.

Benefits from the System Replying, tho Minister said he was keenly interested in tho junior high school system. Ho thought those interested in the Kowhai school had been most fortunate, because tho school had been functioning for ten years and tho children attending it had been enjoying its benefits while those in other parts of the Dominion were not so' fortunate. "You ought to say: God bless Sir James Parr, who gave us the school," said Mr. Bitchener. Mr. Stallworthy. Wo do say it. Mr. Bitchener said that in about a month's time he would be handing back the Education portfolio to tho Hon. R. Masters. "I can only say I feel keenly interested in what you have said," ho added, "and if tho question comes up again in Cabinet, as it possibly will. 1 will have the benefit of knowing both sides of the 6tory. I cannot make any promise. You don't expect mo to, I know. I have never been in tho habit of making any promise in life I cannot fulfil to tho letter."