The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated “THE EGMONT SETTLER” (Established 1890) MONDAY, MAY 11 ,1936. A DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL AT ELTHAM?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 127, 11 May 1936, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated “THE EGMONT SETTLER” (Established 1890) MONDAY, MAY 11 ,1936. A DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL AT ELTHAM?

IT is a very great pity if the mud of parochialism is to be allowed to plaster the question of whether or not a district high school should be established aFEltham. Mud not only makes anything unpleasant, but it hides its true contours, and in the interests of the children, Stratford and Eltham alike must calmly and carefully look for the truth in this matter. It is not a question of whether Eltham would like a high school, or whether Stratford would like to retain the Eltham pupils. It is simply. what is the best arrangement for the pupils? In favour of the establishment of a school at Eltham, it is admitted that train.travelling, no matter how the disadvantages are minimised, is irksome and might easily be unsatisfactory. Furthermore, if Eltham could have its own school, it would not merely satisfy the town’s just civic pride, but would give it those more subtle benefits which accrue to Stratford or to any town which has a»fine secondary school of its own. Through its old pupils, a school plays a large part in the public and social life of a town, and Dr. Saunders and his supporters have every reason for their desire to see Eltham have that influence in its midst. But can Eltham really support a high school of its own at the present time? Only about 20 pupils come to Stratford from Eltham, and probably the most the district could find would be 50 pupils. And a high school of 50 pupils would mean a small and inadequate staff. That, in itself, is enough to kill the proposal. There are other things that have not been considered—things that are almost important as the inefficient education that the children would receive. Apart from the lack of technical and agricultural facilities, what sort of tiny institution? School spirit is important. What quality of sports teams could the school produce, and what honour would it be for a boy to “make” the first fifteen of a school so small? What competition would there be in athletics? All these things are tremendously important. It is the sporting successes cf themselves and their school that most pupils value when they leave. Until Eltham has a larger population it cannot simply support a high school. The prcoosal should be shelved for ten years, and in the meantime Eltham parents should remember with gratitude (as most of them do) that their sons and daughters under the present arrangement are receiving an excellent education and are privileged to be pupils of a school of which they can be proud. And sifter all, it’s only seven miles away, ■ . f