“BREEDING OUR LEADERS”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 6

“BREEDING OUR LEADERS”

FINE HIGH SCHOOLS FAVOURABLE WORLD COMPARISON WHAT THE MINISTER THINKS. (By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, March 11. Some interesting figures showing the trend of secondary education away from classics were quoted to-day by Sir James Parr in an address at Mount Albert Grammar School. “Most- of the high schools,” he said, “give a commercial course and an agricultural course for boys and a domestic course for girls.” The function of a high school had broadened out immensely since his own day, when 95 per cent, of hays had to take Latin. To-day not more than 50 per cent, of the hoys took Latin, and certainly not more than 35 per cent, of girls in high schools proper. Therefore the average of pupils taking Latin was about 42 per cent., so that nearly Bl) per cent, took sound general courses of instruction.

“Particularly.” said Sir James, “do we insist nowadays that English language and literature should be the predominant subjects, and that emphasis be given to science, history and civics.” Reverting to the classical course. Sir James remarffeti that in district high schools of country centres only 15 per cent, of hoys took Latin, the large majority of them taking the agricultural course, while 13 per cent, only Of girls in the same centres received instruction in Latin. The object _in these cases was generally with a view to matriculating and qualifying for teaching and other prolessions. “I am very proud of the fine work and tone of our high schools and technical schools,” concluded the Minister. “They compare favourably with any in the world. They breed our leaders in professions, in” commerce, in industry and in farming.”