DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11809, 11 August 1900, Page 8

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. TO THE EDITOR

Sib, —The chairman of the Education Board has written to your paper giving " as clearly as he can the position the board has taken up " with regard to " district high schools." To those who have paid attention to the board's actions he has shown clearly that the whole course of events has, 'been one of shuffling and prevarication:

The letter referred to is,not a fair representation. The first paragraph, however, states the case correctly—the board. being short of funds decided to retrench the district high schools, and commenced by'disrating one school and proposing to disrate one or two others. We cannot believe that it was the boards intention at that time to establish district high schools at Tapanui, Naseby, Clyde, Kaitangata, and such other districts as might claim, them. It set itself to find reasons for abolishing those already in existence. Those reasons, however, were not so easily found. Then the happy idea of raising and" " absorbing " the fees was ■promulgated, and should it unfortunately come about that the board will get its way in this matter, the usefulness of the schools will be seriously impaired. There are many country settlers with large families to educate who would -find it dillicult to pay the higher fee. Their children have none of the opportunities to be found iv the centres for getting employment, or for improving themselves in their trades or professions, an-.l these parents justly elaira the advantages of a good.education for their children. As it is, why do so many People gravitate to the centres but to secure better opportunities for their children? And this centralising tendencycau best bo obv»ted by increasing the facilities .or. education _ in. mitlvin" district*. "There- is no disguising the S thTthe l S oa«l Bet itself to improve its finnnco a-t the expense of the country district'- 7 "however much it may now express its eagerness to multiply district high schools. We cannot all have these schools at our door, and great care should be exercised in placing them where they shall be ot most benefit. Just'ubw it suits the policy of the. board, however, to encourage the clamour for these •schools, as thereby jealousy between 'districts is created, and the system to some, extent made ridiculous. With regard to Mr Harraway's return showing fees collected and the amount that would have been collected had 10s per quarter been charged, the only object in publishing it is to try to make it appear that parents have not fairly and honestly paid the fees charged. Is it not a fact that, the board for the past 20 years has allowed each committee to fix its fees on whatever scale it chose? The Balelutha- committee charged 5s per quarter, and I learn that ( that sum has always been freely paid. Mr Harraway says: "For several years past the fees paid at the district high schools have, been handed over to the head master to be divided between himself "and the first assistant.' Now. the '•' several years " are just since the passing of the Education Act- 22 years ago, and these~feo3 .havo always formed part of the teachers' salaries published in the board s annual report. Now, the board is going to absorb the fees. Surely the teachers will thank the chairman of the board for so considerately using that word ; " retrench " is so much more'cruel. In fact, these schools are suffering their fair share of retrenchment, and it is time the board's attention was turned to some other branch of the service.. i It- is a. great pity that the liev. P. B. Fraser has not more support on the board. There is no doubt that the official representations have been coloured, to the detriment of the district high schools, and it is to-be hoped Mr Fraser will succeed iv getting the matte* fully and fairly investigated. The difference between the truth and the whole truth is often material, and in this case it account? for most of the wrangling.—l am, etc., ttalnhitha- August a. , Johx M'Nb'>