JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16738, 20 May 1922, Page 18

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

PROPOSALS DISCUSSED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 19. The junior high schools proposals, as advocated by the Minister of Education, were discussed at Parliament buildings to-day by four delegates from each branch of the teaching profession, namely high schools, primary schools and technical schools. The following were present at the conference : —Representatives of primary schools—Miss E. A. Chaplin, Messrs W. H. Newton* W. H. S. Law and FG. Gibbs; representing secondary schools—Miss Lynch and Messis E•_ Milner, T. R. Cresswell and W. Thomas; representing technical schools-—Messrs I. Newton x E. G. Jones, F. W. Martin and J. H. Howell. r lh© Minister of Education, the Hon C. J. Parr, presided, and there were also present the following Departmental officers—Director of Education, Mr J . Caughley ; chief inspector of primary schools, Mr T. R. Strong; chief inspector of high schools, Mr J. Drummond. The director of technical education, Mr M. S. La Trobe. The following motions were adopted;— (1) That the primary course should in general be determined by the at tainment that can reasonably be expected of pupils who have completed their twelfth jear. (2) That as an introduction to th? general system an intermediate or junior high school course be established in centres of different types. (3) That further inq\ iry should diligently he mad© into the education systems of other countries, especially Jingland, Scotland. Males and America. Commenting on the work of the conference, the Minister said there was .» most useful discussion which brought out every possible point of view. » am greatly indebted to the conference lor valuable suggestions,” he said. "‘Generally speaking they were entirely sympathetic with the proposal that we should make a trial and experiment on a new intermediate or junior high school course, and I adopt willingly their suggestion that full inquiry and investigation should take place as to what is being done in other countries.” As to the necessity for beginning post-primary education at twelve years of age or thereaoouts there was, added th© Minister, complete unanimitv of opinion at the conference. Further, as to tho advisability of the new curriculum emoodying varying types or courses of instruction suitable to tho varying mental aptitudes and interests of the students, there was very little difference of opinion. A good deal of discussion centred round th© issue as to whether the new school should be a separate educational unit or should be linked up with the present primary course, or alternatively with existing secondary ana technical institutions, and be conducted in either case in the same schools. Generally, however, it was felt that nothing should he done to hamper a fair trial of the new type of school in large centres as a separats school or unit, and the Minister whs encouraged to develop this idea accordingly. With regard to the larnreboroughs there was a feeling that existing high schools or district high schools might well be made the locus in quo for the new type of tionA useful suggestion came from the primary school teachers present with icspect to riir.il education. The representatives of this branch of the service emphasised the needs of the countrv child and suggested that the Minister should establish in country districts a consolidated rural high school, which should gather l>y motor or other transport children m the present fifth and sixth standards to a common centre to a new school, which should be the junior high school for the district. Tli© primary school report stated that they saw even greater prospects of success in thi9 direction than in the large centres, and urged that the consolidated school system would go a way to remove the present disabilities the country had in the way °f getting higher education. The Minister expressed complete sympathy with the idea, and said he would consult with Departmental officers as to whether in so.ne district where roads were good and transport cheap the suggestion could not be tried out. Die conference generally, he said in conclusion, was of opinion that experiments should be made in three different types of places—the cities, the larger boroughs, and rural districts simultaneously. .Some delegates desired caution before proceeding to the wholesale application of any plan, but the majority of reports were clear that a change must take place on the Tine* of the proposals made by the Minister in order to make our educational rvstom more consonant with up-to-date | educational thought and practice outside. and urged upon the Minister thai he should not dolav unduly.