PROPOSAL REJECTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16542, 28 September 1921, Page 2

PROPOSAL REJECTED.

DISCONTINUANCE OF PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. A proposal t-o discontinue the primary department of the Girls’ High School was rejected by the Board of Governors of Canterbury College for the second time yesterday. It was placed before the board last year, and on a vote being taken was rejected by a majority of members. Yesterday Mr H. Boyd moved ‘ ‘ That the primary department in connection with the Girls’ High School should bo discontinued at the end of the present year.” A letter was read from Miss V. Gibson, lady principal of the High School, supplying information as to the position of the primary class. The letter stated that there Mere 160 vacancies available for 1922, us follow:—Full secondary course, main school, 66 ; Avonside School, 136; home life course, main school, 3d; commercial course, Avonside, 25. The letter continued that no applicant for full secondary course or for home course had been refused. No applicant for the commercial course had been refused who could not obtain a similar or fuller course at other institutions. Junior free places could be held at the School of Art, the "West Christchurch District High School; the Technical College and the Normal District High School. Vacancies were available at all but the last named alter the commencement of the first term of 1921. The Normal. District High School had vticaricios up to the end of January, but had filled them by February 3. No children below nine years of age, and the fourth standard Mere admitted. There were no children of low intelligence in the class. The two girls in standard four were particularly promising pupils. A considerable and increasing proportion of the class More country children boarding in town, four at the school hostel, all full boarders. Some of these lived beyond the reach of the primary schools in their home district. Others had attended them with considerable difficulty. One girl for some years had to reach the nearest primary school live miles from her home bv sharing her brother’s pony, and in all weather riding the ten miles a day behind him. The class was self-supporting and received nothing! from tho school revenue. The fees charged covered both the teacher’s salary and the same sum for incidentals as was paid by the Education Department for main school pupils, namely, £2 10s per pupil per annum. No objection to the retention of the class had boon raised by the Education Department, and preparatory classes were recognised in the annual reports on secondary education as allowed ndj juiicts of secondary schools. They were attached to about twenty other secondary schools. Air Boyd said that iu spite of Miss Gibspn's letter ho was of the same opinion as previously. Miss Gibson's | arguments were begging the. question. It was better to keep tho secondary department to itself. The board at) present, by continuing the primary department was maintaining a class school. Mr L. 13. Wood seconded the motion, which, lie said, had his whole-hearted support. Nobody questioned the need for a new high school at Avonside to accommodate at least 200 girls, but, could anybody see when it would be ready? Something must be done in the meantime, and the proposal represented iu the motion would ease the present position. The board, by continuing the system, was maintaining a primary department for paying pupils, and lie Mas afraid that it would not be induced to discontinue tlic system until there was a stronger infusion of tho democratic spirit at the board’s tabic. Mr A. Fairbairn said that as the proposal Mas strongly opposed by the lady principal he would oppose the motion . Dr G. M. Lester said that the present system was observed at other high schools in New Zealand, and was endorsed by the democratic Government of the country. He accepted Miss Gibfc’on’s opinion as final. Mr J. C. Adams opposed the motion, saying that in many girls’ high schools in England provision was made for primary as well as secondary instruction . Air L. M. Isitt, M.F., said that liehad changed his views on the question. On broad principles he had a good deal of. sympathy with Air Boyd, but he felt that Miss Gibson’s statement Mas clear and straightforward and that if the board carried the motion it Mould take a very extreme step. He could not see any justification for action diametrically opposed to the opinion of a lady principal who had earned not only the board’s thanks, but even its gratitude. Air C. T. As chin an asked if members who opposed the motion had taken up the same attitude when the primary department was abolished at the Boys’ High School. He was inclined to agree with Air Boyd, from what members of the board had said, that there was at the high school a. little class school. If any person in Christchurch wished his or her frirl to go to the high school she should be able to do so. The board bad no right to say that she should be sent to some other place. The department was unnecessary, it wae an excrescence. Tho Hon vt. J. Smith said that liealso sympathised with Air Boyd on broad principles, but after hearing Aliss Gibson’s letter he thought that all the arguments were in favour of the lady principal. Ho could not believe that the high school was a class school. Air G. T. Weston said that Air Be van Brown, former head master of the Boys’ High School, was not as strongly in favour of retaining the

primary department as Aliss Gibson was. He supported the lady principal of the school. The Rev S. La wry said that when it came io a. question of policy Aliss Gibson’s opinion carried no more weight than those of members of the board. He could not understand why it was of any importance to the secondary department that the board should guard the interests of a few younger sisters of tho secondary department girls. He saw no reason why he should reverse the vote he gave a year ago in favour of discontinuing the primary department. Mr G. T. Booth said that, after listening to the arguments, he had concluded that the advocates of the change had not made out a sufficiently strong case. In reply to a remark by Air Boyd as to Aliss Gibson’s method of selecting children. Air Isitt said that Aliss Gibson probably selected children according to the signs of their ability. The motion was lost, five members voting for it. and ten ago.inst.