WINTON HIGH SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 23183, 26 April 1937, Page 8

WINTON HIGH SCHOOL

To The Editor Sir, —There has been, much correspondence concerning the apparently important land mark, the Winton District High School. So far the correspondents have treated one side of the question only. In the first place a great error was made by the construction of the school at Winton before an ample number of pupils was assured. With the convenient railway timetable and the excellent educational facilities pertaining at certain old-established and desirable town schools it is a waste of taxpayers’ money to provide for the construction and maintenance of the High School at Winton and pay the wages of the staff employed. The small staff of two teachers employed at a school of this kind cannot possibly be expected to teach several courses and subjects expertly, less so with a mixed class in attendance. This mixing of both sexes at a secondary school is definitely an undesirable state of affairs. Sport of all kinds plays a great part in die curriculum of education and development mentally and physically of the pupils. At the Winton High School the roll is apparently so small that the money cannot be raised for material, so that practically all sports are dropped or carried on halfheartedly owing to the absence of

Sport of all kinds plays a great part in file curriculum of education and development mentally and physically of the pupils. At the Winton High School the roll is apparently so small that the money cannot be raised for material, so that practically all sports are dropped or carried on halfheartedly owing to the absence of coaches. This is not so at town schools, with the result that compulsory sporting activities develop the pupils and doubtlessly encourage the enrolment of the sons or daughters of country residents, in some cases from within sight of the Winton High School. The staff of these town schools is such that separate teachers (who are experts in the particular subjects they are required to teach) are given to the forms for different subjects so that the pupil has every possible chance of learning without difficulty. On leaving school, to have been a pupil of a school of long standing and some importance, is one of the best references obtainable, and in more than one instance has decided in the selection from the candidates for positions. In your paper of April 23 “Parent” professes his ignorance by suggesting that the free passes of those attending town schools should be refused. Those who prefer to learn the subjects taught in the Winton High School in another centre further from their homes do not possess free concession tickets on the railway but tickets which are paid for either by the pupil or parents with no assistance from the Southland Education Board. “Mother” in the same edition insinuates that a better attendance at the Winton High School would improve the standard of teaching. This I fail to see.—Yours, etc., ONE OF THE ONES. April 24, 1937.