JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 64, 21 March 1929, Page 5

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

EDUCATION POLICY.

INVERCARGILL, Last Night,

A deputation from the Gore and Invercargill School Committees’ Association waited upon the Minister of Education, the Hon H. A. Atmoro, to-day, with reference to the proposed introduction in Southland of l junior high schools. The Minister in reply said that he was pleased to have met them as so many misconceptions existed as to the. need for alteraTuoni-G Objections were raised to any alterations in the primary school system, but a radical change was necessary, as the interests of the great mass of children were concerned. He had. been in touch with education for a long time in all its forms. The cost was cited as the principal objection to the introduction of junior high schools. If it were desired in Southland! that no change should he made the matter would he held over to a later date. It was obvious however, that soma change was necessary. In the North Island, said the Minister, he was besieged with applications for junior high schools, so that it was difficult to understand the attitude of those who were against any change. New Zealand wa s at present behind the Old: Country in matters of education, although' for some time previously it had led. People were paying for post primary education today, and although the nation was gaining the country people were not getting the benefits they should get if a change were made.

The matter of the cost in connection with the introduction of .'union*. Modi schools had *oen cone into carefully and the last report he received stated that The entire cost of the new srstem would' Tie round tty he neclisrihle.

The Minister stated that many who formerly were hitter opponents otf the scheme were now among its heartiest supporters. The president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union had said that Mr was the right man Tn the rvg*it position because he was endeavouring to introduce junior high schools. Mr, Jones thanked Mr. Atmore for his address, but stated that, personally, he had not been convinced by it.

MR POLSON EXPLAINS. In reference to tne above telegram Mr Poison made the following statement to a “Post" representative; “i am stat.isiied that tiie -Minister of Education lias been uusreported) in his discussion with the f armers’ Union at Invercargill in quoting myseir as having declared him biej the right man in the right place because he was endeavouring to introduce junior high schools.. Ido think Mr Atmore. is the right man to handle the difficult portfolio of Education, and that he will make a success of it, but neither the Farmers’ Union nor myself has expressed an opinion in favour of junior high schools. Only four days ago I wrote to Mr Atmore endorsing the protest of the North Canterbury Farmers' t moil against? any extension of the existing system that will unsettle our bmnnest country boys and give them a taste for town life and asking for his assistance in preventing any such interference.”