OTAHUHU SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 13

OTAHUHU SCHOOLS

Sir, —In your issue of January 9 it is stated that the Director of Education had refused a request to discontinue the practice of transferring promoted Standard IV. scholars to the Otahuhu Technical High School. The decision appears to be both educationally and practically sound. There are many educational advantages in having Forms J. and 11. scholars in an intermediate department of a secondary school. Lcjst year the scholars iu Form 11. obtained 100 per cent passes in proficiency besides which both iorms received two half-days per week preparatory general and vocational training for the high school. I am more than pleased wjth the progress made by my son in the intermediate department. In connection with the so-called plebiscite conducted by the Otahuhu Primary School, it would seem that the result is more a testimonial to the excellent services rendered by the headmaster and staff, who are apparently faced with a reduction in the grade of their school owing to a natural decrease in numbers now general in many schools throughout the province, rather than an impartial opinion of parents on tho educational question involved. Parents in the Manukau district arc now realising the rapid progress that has been made by the Otahuhu Technical High School, which is one of the most modern schools in tho Dominion, combining the functions of a grammai school and technical high school for both bovs and girls, and having the additional advantago of an attached intermediate department. From an educational viewpoint the action of the primary school committee in conducting a plebiscite seems to be much ado about nothing. Parent.