A HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE THAMES.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1813, 24 October 1874, Page 2

A HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE THAMES.

In pursuance of an advertisement re the above subject, a meeting was held in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute last night, at 7 o'clock, Mr. T. L. Murray in the chair. Her. J. Hill said ho had very much pleasure in submitting to the meeting a resolution which had been put into his hands. It wa3 to the .following effect: — 'f That in the opinion of this meeting it is extremely desirable, in the interests of education, that a High School, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1872, Amendment Act, 1874, should be established in some centrally situated locality in this district." The reverend gentleman said they were all convinced of the desirability of establishing a High School in the district, in connection with the Government. They all knew that a high education was necessary for the higher duties of life, and he believed that the object they had in view could only be obtained by opening a High School. He believed there should be a standard applied to those who wished for admission to a High School such as it was desired to establish, and only those admitted who could enter immediately on the higher branches to be taught. Mr. Hill spoke at some length on the advantages which the project would offer. He believed a High School would not interfere with the common schools in the least—that 1, it would do them good bytaking away from ihem pupils who would otherwise be attending those schools. To afford this higher education to boys here would add to their heppiness and usefulness through life, and would be the means of making them a blessing to this place, and, through this plat-e, to the whole colony. . Mr. L. J. Bagnall, M.P.C., seconded the resolution, and in doing so said that coming after the rev. gentleman, it was

unnecessary for him ta say anything as to the desirability of such a school. The principal object was to ascertain how it could be obtained. He believed ii}e General Government, in its kindness to the province during the last session, presented it with £25,000, and he thought they might ask that out of that £25,000 a sum should be set apart for the establishment of a High School at the Thames. Mr. Bagnall then gave a few figures as to the cost of establishing such a school. £500 would probably bo sufficient to erect a suitable building, and £600 per annum would provide teachers. From enquiries which he had made regarding the probable attendance and fees, he found that probably £400 per annum would be derived from this source. This would leave the sum to bo provided, £500 for a buildingand £200 per annum towards the teachers' salaries, which would beprobably less after the first year. Mr. Bagnall spoke at some length in support of the resolution, saying that the necessity for a High School had been long felt by parents ; and that if they represented the matter in its true light to the Government they would have no difficulty in obtaining it. Mr. Allom asked what clause of the [ Act the present resolution referred to. He thought it desirable before the meeting came to any resolution that they; ■hould be acquainted with the clauses of the Act under which that resolution was proposed to be given effect to. He was not opposed to the resolution, but should like to be assured that the common schools would not suffer by the introduction of the High School. Although the result of the Education Act in respect to the common schools had been a great success, still they were in this position, that in Parawai the schools were crowded to such an extent that they were sending scholars away, while the teachers were overworked. The Chairman remarked that the subject of the success or otherwise of the common schools was not under discussion. Mr. Allom said he merely wished to speak as regarded the Education Act. He would gladly concur in the opinion of the necessity for a High School, and considered the Thames as much entitled to such an institution as any other place in the Province, but he trusted the Board of Education would not forget that the common schools had not attained to that degree of efficiency which it was the object of the Act they should. The Chairman called upon Mr. Howe to address the meeting during the absence of Mr. Carpenter, who went to fetch the Act. Mr. Eowe said in the first place it was useless to speak of the Education Board, as there was no hope of getting anything from that body. They must go outside the Education Board, to whom the Provincial Government had been advancing £1600 per month. They must go direct to the Provincial Government, and not lean upon a rotten stick that would fail them. Mr. Allom had remarked that he hoped the High School would not interfere with the common schools, stating that scholars were going away from the schools. He (Mr. Kowe) should be led to suppose that the scholars went away not because there was not room for them, but because they were no longer fit to be there, and hence the necessity for the high school. He himself knew instances of boys being mined because there was no school in the district in which they could receive an education such as it was requisite they should have. If these boys, when having been well grounded in elementary knowledge, were drafted off into such a school as it was proposed to introduce, there would be room for others in the common schools. He had little doubt but that the demands —just as they were —would be met if they showed themselves to be in earnest; but they might go further than that and guarantee the attendance of 100 boys. If they guaranteed the pupils they would obtain the school.

Mr Grrigg thought some understanding should be arrived at that the'examination should not be fixed at such an advanced •tandard aa to render it necessary that a boy should leave the common schools to prepare himself in a superior school for entrance into the High fechool. Mr. James Mackay said he was not oppesed to the resolution, but considered •that before they applied for a High School, they should ascertain that the object of the present education had been fulfilled, and that they had attained complete efficiency: then, if there was found to be a surplus of money, by all means let them have a High School. But he should wish to see every child on the field receive a, fair education in their own language; then, if they wished, they could go in for the classics. They should first ascertain that there were a sufficient number of common schools to meet the requirements of the rising generation; they should be able to walk before they ' attempted to run. Mr. W. Carpenter, M.P.C., said his opinion was that they had commenced to walk, and to walk last; and that they qnly required a little assistance to be able to run. He considered the remark made as to the crowded condition of the common schools was one of the best arguments in favor of a -High School. He maintained that the children growing up around them should be given the opportunity of obtaining an education which should fit them for the higher walks of life. If this were denied to them, the consequence would be that strangers coming to the land would [ take the places in the foremost positions in life which they (the children of the country) ought to occupy. Some remarks were mad© by Messrs Severn, Mcllhone, Sims, Porter and McGowan, when the resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously ; after which, Mr. Carpenter moved the following resolution: —" That the Chairmen of the Parawai, Kauae-

ranga, Waiotahi, and Tararu School Committees, aud Messrs Murray, Souter, J. Mackay, jun., Severn, Hollis, Korton, Bagnall, Brodie, Hopcraft, Berry, Mcllhone, and the mover, with power to add to their number, bo a committee to collate the necessary information, and. to communicate with the Board of Education and the Provincial Government, with the view of carrying out the foregoing resolution." Mr. Brodie seconded the motion, which was carried nem. con. Mr. Dewar remarked on what had been said about the common schools being made perfect before they thought of a high school. If they waitd for. that they would until their children's children were grey. Ho had been watching schools since thirty years back and they were then talking about becoming perfect, but had not. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and to Mr. Eowe for convening the meeting terminated the proceedings.