The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, AUSUST 18, 1923. STATE SCHOOL EDUCATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 88, 18 August 1923, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, AUSUST 18, 1923. STATE SCHOOL EDUCATION.

In hi;i annual report the Minister of Education (Hon. C- J. Parr) de- , votes seme atteation to the question ol what becomes qZ children who

pass through the Sixth Standard in the primary schools. The number of pupils returned as having left the primary schools in 1921 was 16,362, of which number 12,274 had passed Standard VI., ana 4088, or 25 per cent, had not done so. The Minister remarks that so high a percentage of pupil/ should leave school without obtaining what must be regarded as the minimum educational equipment necessary for their life's work is a matter of grave concern. About 50 per cent, of the boys leaving school at this stage take up farming pursuits, and 30 per cent, learn trades, the remainder following miscellaneous .callings. The provision of free places at technical schools for specially recommended pupils over fourteen years of age who have not passed Standard VI. has been of some little assistance to these pupils, some 150 free places of this kind having been taken up in 1922. Of the pupils who pass Standard VI. the high proportion of 63 per cent, enter upon some course of secondary education, although approximately one-quarter of the number leave after one year's 1 tuition. However, the figures for this Dominion appear to compare favourably with those of Scotland. The total number of children receiving secondary education in 1922 was 20,252, being 2118 more than in 1921. Of the 12,274 children who left the primary schools in 1921 having passed Standard VI., 4087 entered secondary schools in 1922, 1709. the secondary departments of district high schools, and 1941 technical high schools, hence a total of 7737, or 63 per cent., of the children mentioned entered upon a course of secondary education. The number represent 47 per cent, of the total number of pupils leaving the primary schools in 1921, of whom nearly one-quarter had not passed Standard VI. In addition to the pupils mentioned as having proceeded to a secondary course of education, 2116 entered tochnical schools or classes, of which number 1371 had passed Standard VI. and 365 had lot. "In the ease of secondary sch) -.15." proceeds the reports, "the proportion of pupils leaving at the end of the first year shows a regrettable increase, which can be accounted for only by the financial depression of 1922. The proportion leaving at the end of the second year was smaller thau the previous year, so that taking the two years together the results are approximately the same. As has been frequently pointed out, however, one year spent at a secondary school, where a new course of work is being entered upon is practically useless, and represents little more than a waste of time and money. A still higher proportion, 37.7 per cent., remain only one year in the secondary departments of district high schools, but as the course of work taken there is often more in the nature of a coping-stone to the primary course, the matter is not quite so serious. The case of technical high schools where 29.5 per cent, of the pupils leave at the end of the first year calls for serious consideration. The whole matter is dominated by the age at which pupils begin their secondary course which in New Zealand averages fourteen years, and is considered to be two years too old.