ANOTHER VOTE LIKELY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21184, 3 November 1938, Page 6

ANOTHER VOTE LIKELY

Intermediate School for Timaru School Committees Discuss Proposal Further Information Sought Timaru will probably have another opportunity shortly of saying whether or not it desires the establishment of qn intermediate school here. The South Canterbury School Committees’ Association, at a meeting last night decided to obtain further Information on the proposal, it being state 1 th’t there might now be a change of opinion amongst parents who two years ago voted against an intermediate school for the town. Mr J. W. Preen, a member of the Canterbury Education Board, explained that the proposal was a resurrection of what had been discussed some time ago. The Board had plans drawn for the alteration of the Timaru Main School, and desired to know if there had been any change in opinion since the ■uggesuon had been rejected on the last cocas’on. “W2 should not lag behind other parts of the Dominion in the welfare of our children,” said Mr Preen, who emphasised the value of the wider scope of education, and new methods which in his opinion, the intermediate school provided. It was admitted that primary education in the Dominion was beyond reproach, but he contended that the intermediate school provided more scope for individual training and opportunity. Tire suggested alterations to the Main School were in the hands of the Department, and If the people of Timaru wanted an intermediate school, Timaru Main would now definitely provide the site. It might, he thought, be advisable to take another plebiscite, and the Board was prepared to again carry that out. If there was no change of opinion that was as far as the Board could go. School Must Be Remodelled Mr G. Benstead, another member of the Board, recalled that it was two years ago since a referendum was taken. Timaru Main was an old school, and had to be remodelled. The question was whether it was to be remodelled as a primary or intermediate school. He did not believe in local option if the system was the right prescription for the educational needs of the children. Since the matter was last raised in Timaru. Dr. Beeby, had, before his appointment as Assistant Director of Education, brought down a comprehensive report on the intermediate school, and the Association would be well advised to secure copies, discuss the latest developments and call a further meeting to decide whether it was worth while considering the proposal. They should all alm at securing the best possible for the educational advancement of the children. Mr G. A. McGregor said that before he was opposed to the intermediate school, but he had changed his opinion and he had recently visited the Shirley School and he was very impressed with what he had seen. Some of the handwerk was outstanding. In his opinion the Department should say whether or not the schools should be established, as a layman was not in a position to judge. He hoped that Timaru would have another opportunity of voting on the matter. Mi* Benstead moved that copies of Dr. Beeby’s report be obtained immediately and be circulated to school committees for consideration. The morion was seconded by Mr McGregor, who added that whether or not the meeting was in favour of the intermediate school, no harm W’ould be done in securing the information. "I think we need to secure more information,” said the chairman (Mr F. H. Ward) who considered that the nlotion was on right lines. Mr G. Griffiths asked if any of the present Intermediate schools had formerly been primary schools. Mr Preen replied that to his knowledge they were all new schools. Mr R. J. Runciman pointed out that the Macandrew Road primary school, Dunedin, had recently been closed and turned into an intermediate school. Mr Griffiths drew attention to the sentiment attached to the Main School which was the father and mother of all schools in Timaru. New School Suggested Why not remodel the Main Schoc'. as a primary school and build an intermediate school somewhere else, suggested Mr D. C. Morse. The South School, said Mr A. 11. Wyatt, would very much like to be in the position of the Main School. His committee was whole-heartedly in favour of the Intermediate school and he considered that Timaru should definitely keep in step with the march of educational progress which was more important than sentiment. The last vote taken was a farce and probably the next vote would be too. fas it going to be detrimental to the children if there was not a central primary school in the town? asked Mr C. Manning. That was the chief objection of parents to the Main School being taken. If the Department came to light with a new central primary school he was sure that no objection would be raised to the Intermediate school. Mi- Benstead pointed out that it would probably be possible to provide accommodation at the Main School for infants. The Board would be within its rights in rebuilding the Main School as soon as possible as the accommodation was a disgrace, said Mr H. Lomas. The question of whether or not it should be an intermediate school was a secondary consideration. Mr Benstead recalled that much of the opposition in Timaru on the last occasion was against a two-year intermediate course. He personally would never favour a two year course, which was simply an expedient. Mr Preen suggested that a public meeting could be called when Dr. Beeby’s report could be explained by

educational authorities, and probably Dr. Beeby himself. Members considered that copies of Dr. Beeby’s report should be secured and discussed and a public meeting could probably be held later. Mr Benstead’s motion was carried, an amendment on the lines of Mr 5 Preen's suggestion being defeated.