THE EXEMPTION STANDARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 97, 14 June 1911, Page 8

THE EXEMPTION STANDARD.

MUST PASS THE SIXTH. A WISE PROVISION. MR G. J. GARLAND INTERVIEWED. The decision of the Education Department to raise the standard of exemption from attendance at primary schools from the fifth to a pass in the sixth standard was the subject of an interview on the question by an Auckland “Star” representative with Mr G. J. Garland, chairman of the Education Board. “The law as it now stands,” said Mr Garland, “requires every child between the ages of seven and fourteen years to attend some public school each lime the school is open, oi' from some other source receive efficient instruction, children being able to obtain exemption certificates on their satisfying tho requirements of the fifth standard in the public schools. That is to say, the fifth standard lias for a. number of years liccn the standard of exemption. The fixing of this standard is done by regulation, and hence at any time is subject to amendment or alteration by an Order-in-Conneil. This is evidently what has happened in' the present case, and the standard of exemption in future will be the sixth standard. “Sneli a change is certainly a move in the right direction, and will bo welcomed by all who have the true interests of education at heart. At the last conference of inspectors held in l‘JlO at Wellington it was unanimously agreed that, in tho interests of the community, as well as in those of the individual, the standard of exemption should be raised. The average ago of pupils for the whole of the Dominion at the close of 1909 (the last year for which returns arc available) ' was in Standard VI 13 years and 11 months, and in Standard V 13 years; so that it was possible for pupils, by obtaining exemption in Standard V,’ to loavq school before entering Standard VI, and a whole year prior to reaching the exemption ago, 14. years. A LAMENTABLE LEAKAGE. “There is, unfortunately, a lamentaide leakage of pupils as they pass through the schools, and this the present exemption standard tends to encourage. In view of those facts, as also of the slender knowledge-equip-ment possessed by even a Standard VI pupil, wo must all admit the necessity of the change proposed by the Department. “This is an age of fierce competition amongst States as well as amongst individuals. All progressive communities have come to realise that not only their prosperity, but their very existence, depends upon training their young people to a high pitch of development. If we in New Zealand are to retain the position wo have already won, to say nothing of growing into a strong and prosperous nation, we cannot afford to allow so many of our young people to continue to face the vicissitudes of life with an imperfect primary school training. It lias been urged that to require pupils to attend school until they pass Standard VI is largely to deprive parents of the aid of their children’s services at a time when help is often sorely needed, and, hence, is unfair to the parents concerned—indeed, such action has boon spoken of as an ‘unwarrantable interference with the rights of parents.’ It is true that under certain circumstances the child’s help is a very real necessity, and that in many cases considerable sacrifices are made by parents in sending their children to ‘school. It is true, moreover, that parents have certain rights in the matter of their children with which the State would be most unwise to interfere. But. on the other hand, it is equal!/ true that parents have responsibilities, and that children have rights; one of the responsibilities of parents being to provide their children with opportunities for receiving education, and one of the rights of children being to receive efficient training at. the hands of the State. CONTINUATION' CLASSES NECESSARY. “In all progressive communities the period of childhood—that is, the period during which young people are being trained and equipped for the fuller and more responsible duties beginning with adulthood—is steadily increasing in length. The necessity for attendance at continuation classes, which has already been made compulsory in some countries, and everywhere' is claiming recognition, will ere long demand the serious attention of our people, so that the Department’s action in raising the standard of exemption is only in keeping wit), modern ‘development and progress.’ “And what attitude do you think the Board will adopt on this quel tion?” “1 do not think the Board will object to the proposal. It is composed of men of sound judgment, who will, I am sure, prefer to give the matter a trial and watch results. It any hardship should bo found to develop out of the Minister’s proposal, and a change appear to be desirable, the. Board will take stops to sec the Minister. But. I see no reason why the Board should interfere, and J feel perfectly certain that my colleagues will feel as 1 do.”