PRIMARY EDUCATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17236, 16 April 1930, Page 15

PRIMARY EDUCATION

WHEN SHOULD IT END? COMPULSORY PASSING ON Whether primary school pupils after gaining their proficiency certificates should be allowed to continue at the school or should pass on to secondary schools was a matter briefly discussed at a, meeting of the Nelson Education Board. The question arose out of a letter from the Donniston Committee, asking the hoard to approach the department with a view to providing legislation making it- compulsory for children qfter gaining proficiency certificates to proceed to high schools and not remain at the primary schools. Tho senior inspet lor, Mr M Lynskey, said lie did not think it would he right to ask for compulsory legislation. Mr. J. H. Darkness said he was in favor of making it compulsory. There was a primary system at, present. At what age was it to end? lie did not think it right to keep a. child in the primary school after gaining a, proficiency certificate. Tim Hon. AY. 11. Mclntyre did not agree to making it, compulsory, hut at the discretion of tho hoard. Ho thought the present position where a parent had the right, to keep a child for an additional year at a. primary school when a hieh school was available was wrong. Tho chairman, Mr. F. Smith, did not, think the department would promote legislation compelling children to leave the primary school. ’I here were whole districts where there was im secondary school within reasonable roach. While it might bo desirable to make primary education end at the age of 11 years, it did not mean that, children would have to leave school at that age. but, that the curriculum would have to be altered. Tii an explanation. Mr. Darkness said that bis remarks about not, keeping on after passing the proficiency examination only applied to those places where secondary schools were available. TTe knew it could not he made eompulsorv, because in outlying districts lie thought it. would be cruelty to taken child away from school. Most certainly a child in slid) circumstances should he allowed to keep on. . It, -was agreed that representation lie. made to Hie department Hud. m all cases where a secondary institution is available authority for pupils to remain at the primary schools must he obtained from Hie hoard.