DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2408, 26 April 1900, Page 11

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

At Thursday's meeting of the Education Board some correspondence was rea*d from country school committees with reference to the question of District High Schools. The Palmerston School Committee "wrote acknowledging the receipt of the resolutions adopted by the board with reference to the matter, and, stated that he was directed by the committee to inform the board that tho adoption of such a Fcale o| fees, notwithstanding the provisions of clause 5 of - the , resolutions, would have a disastrous effect oa, the country schools if insisted upon. The Clerk of the Tokomairiro School Committee wrote on the same subject, bringing; under the notice of the board the following considerations :— "(1) That this committee is of opinion that a fee of 255, or, with prompt payment, of 20s, a quarter for the first year ia clearly prohibitory. (2) That not more than one-tenth of the pupils — namely, those who purpose preparing for the matriculation or the civil service examinations — is likely, underpayment of this fee, to remain at schools; the others at present attending will either not attend at all or will find their way to schools" where there is a Seventh Standard taughtfree. (3) That unless the board desires to close the District High Schools altogether, a fee of not more than 10s a quarter will bringin more revenue to the board than a prohibitory, fee of 25s a quarter. (4-) That one main pxirpose of District High Schools, especially in a democratic country like New Zealand, is to encourage pupils of ability, whose parents are unable to eend them to the High Schools in the larger towns, to fit themselves to take an active and intelligent part in the building up of the nation. With a prohibitoryfee such as the board_ proposes this purpose will be frustrated. (5) That the relief proposed by remission of fee would not be taken advantage of, as it savours too much of pauperism. (6) That districts in which Grammar Schools were placed previous to the passing of ihe Education Act; and in which the need for secondary education still exists, may fairly claim to have a right for consideration ,at the hands of the Education department." The committee trusted that the board would* see their way, either on their own account orthrough the Minister of Education, to • do> nothing that would close the District High Schools.

The Clerk of the Lawrence District High School wroie pointing o\it that the board!s ■finances would in no way be benefited by; th» new scale, and the effect upon the higher edu~ cation- in the country districts would be 'dis-" astrous, and undo the acknowledged, good work of these schools, and would take away from the poorer children the advantages now available. The average number of pupils ;n the Lawrence School had been considerably over 30, and under the new scale the buppoaed revenue would be, 30 at £5, £150 ; but it was more than likely that very few of the". 30 would attend at that rate, and in const}--quence the loss of capitation would be, 30 afc £3 15s, £112 10s. The rector stated positively thnt not more than two parents would be in.. a position to pay for their children at theserates, and parents would not place themselves in the position of having to admit their inability to pay. Under the present conditions, the rector had the option of charging or not," and in several cases he had not collected fees from the parents whom he knew from personal knowledge were tillable to pay. He had thus performed his good work, and given tha pupils the great advantage of the higher subjects free of charge, and had bestowed thesame anxious care upon these as upon those in a more fortunate position ; and the records of the school would show how highly the instruction had been appreciated at the moderate fee cf £1. The committee were convinced that the board would easily see that the proposed new regulation would effectually sweep away all the advantages, with no benefit whatever to the board. They reminded the boarrl, in connection with" the recently-proposed modification of District High Schools, that it was stated that it was not tho intention to interfere with the Lawrence School, but the new regulation would have the effect of completely nullifying this intention. The committee had carefully considered the matter in all its details in an impartial manner, and they were forced to the conclusion that the regulation, if enforced, would completely sweep away all the benefits hitherto enjoyed, with not the slightest advantage to the board. The Clerk of the Balclutha District High School wrote forwarding the following resolution passed by the committee on the 2nd inst. : "In the Education Board's regulations dealing with District High Schools the proposed fees are, in the opinion of this committee, entirely prohibitive, and deprives the poorerclasses of the privilege of higher education. Tho section dealing with the remission of fees to those unable to pay would be inoperative, as those for whom it is intended would not be likely to take advantage of it while Standard Til is taught free in district schools." It was resolved to defer consideration of the matter until the motions, notice of which' had been given by Mr Mackenzie, came up for consideration.

The motions in question were as follows: — " (1) That the resolution with respect to tha fees payable for instruction in higher subject? at the District High Schools carried at a previous meeting of the board be rescinded. (2) That the status of the Port Chalmers School be restored to that of a District High School."

Mr Fraser moved — " That the Minister be informed that the board is considering the question of District High Schools, , and will inform him later on of the result' of their deliberations."

Mr Mackenzie seconded the motion, ancl on a division being called the voting was as follows: — Noes: Messrs Borrie, Snow, Sim, and Harraway. Ayes : Messrs Kyle, Fraser, Mackenzie, and Mitchell.

The Chairman gave his casting vote for tha motion, which was accordingly carried.

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