NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1930, Page 9

NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS

DRASTIC CHANGES POSSIBLE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL MOOTED. ABOLITION OF CENTRAL SCHOOL. OPINION OF PARENTS SOUGHT. Drastic changes in the educational system are proposed in a scheme advanced by the department for the consideration of the parents and controlling authorities. Instead of re-building the Central School and conducting it as a primary school it is suggested that an intermediate, or junior high school, of about 16 rooms be substituted, the pupils up to Standard IV. to be distributed amongst the other, primary schools of the town and Standard V. and VI. pupils from all the schools to be concentrated in the new intermediate school as forms 1 and 2, thus preserving a nominal continuity when the pupils ultimately move on to form 3 at tho high school. The scheme has been advanced as the resti-- of the recommendation of the recess committee which recently reported generally on education throughout New Zealand, and which has been, given particular point in New Plymouth owing to the recent destruction , of a portion of the Central School by fire. The proposal is at present purely tentative, and at the present stage has merely been referred to the Taranaki Education Board, school committees and parents concerned. The matter was considered at an informal meeting of the board yesterd-/, and also in committee , at a meeting of the Central Home and School zlssociation last night.

It has been pointed out that the scheme has the advantage of centralising jnterwediate education in New Plymouth under specially qualified teachers, preserves a satisfactory link between primary and secondary schools, and has the particular advantage, if the building is situated on the site of the present Central School, of being adjacen' to the technical school and its manual. and other appointments. Under tho proposed new system there would bo an increased Opportunity of training children .alonj/ their particular aptitudes by consultations between parents dnd teachers.

It is further suggested that a movable school for about 60 children be established at Welboufn, near the southern extremity of Avenue Road. The acting-chairman of the Taranaki Education Board (Mr. J. A. Valentine), emphasised to a Daily News representative last night t)ie point that the proposal was at present purely tentative, apd tho Education Department was merely ascertaining the feeling of the district on the matter.