SUBURBAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 8

SUBURBAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, Dr Hight, in his excellent address on Monday, said: “I should welcome the proposal that a junior high school be established in Christchurch.” Certainly there might be a central model junior high school, but surely all children over eleven now attending our excellent primary schools would not be tramming from all the suburbs to a central junior high school. What a waiting list there would be, to sav nothing of the dreary time-wasting and money-wasting ride on trams, especially in wet or cold weather. The present style of open-air school rooms should make junior high schools an inexpensive addition to our primary day schools. The head masters of our primary suburban schools are quite as highly trained and certificated as those engaged in high schools. Many young men and women of high educational attainment would be glad to work part time or whole time in the junior high schools under the direction of our present primary head masters. The board would get enthusiastic young teachers glad of the work and thankful to be able to stay in Christchurch and continue their university classes in the evening. Both the children and the young teachers would be the gainers. Parents would like to see less rather than more of this excessive waste of time on trams and less danger in crossing crowded streets to board trams going to and from central schools. A central school could easily become too large and unweildy, and all individuality would be- lost sight of in ‘‘mass production,” of which we have too much already.—l am, etc., SUBURBAN.