DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13275, 2 May 1907, Page 6

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

To 'ths" Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir, —In your account of the last meeting of the Timaru High Schools Board, the secretary of that body is reported; to have stated that District High Schools do not profess.to take pupils so far as the standard, required for 'the junior scholarship examination of the University of N.Z. As the statement had reference to an. expupil of this school, who was .seeking admission to Timaru G.H.S., I beg to be allowed a short space to give it a denial. In their ordinary; acceptation, the words quoted mean either that the teachers coiliprising the staff at Geraldine D.H.S. (taken as representative of D.H. Schools generally), are hot possessed "*of the qualifications w-hich would enable them to prepiare l;upiis for such examination, or thati, being in some measure qualified, they/were averse to undertaking the extra work ( entailed. « : ; V As a matter of fact, the very girl con : earning wdioss admission the ' discussion arose was prepared' here during 1906 for the jun; schol. examination, and, though flis was.' then two years under the age when she will for the last; time : be eligible to compete, gained 84 per cent. of the markii necessary to qualify fcr the 'ere-. dit' list. Further, she Was not withdrawn from this school at my suggestion, indeed, this was done without consulting me, although, subsequently, in conveitaiion wiih her father, I approved the step as being advisable under present circumstances. I have, etc., J. R.. MONTGOMERY, M.A., Headmaster, Geraldine D.H.S. April 29 th, 1907.