COST OF SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20360, 18 July 1934, Page 14

COST OF SCHOOLS.

Amalgamation Urged at Ashburton. CONFERENCE HELD. (Special to the " Star.”) ASHBURTON, July 17. At the invitation of the Ashburton High School Board of Governors, members of the Ashburton Technical High School Board met members in conference to-night to discuss a proposal to amalgamate the schools. The chairman of the High School Board (Mr J. W. Dowden) presided, and welcomed the members of the Technical School Board.

After discussion, Dr Miller moved llhat the meeting, having considered amalgamation, appoint a sub-committee consisting of the chairman of each board to go into ways and means. This Was seconded by Mr J. Brown and carried.

Mr A. L. Jones (chairman of the Technical School Board) said that -his board was open-minded on the subject. His board would jealously guard the j interests of the Technical School—its ■ prestige and its usefulness in the community. They felt that before any • change took place the interest of technical education should be adequately J safeguarded. If that could be done they would receive his whole-hearted support. Expense of Separate Schools. Mr Bowden said the expense of conducting two schools, including separate laboratories, must be greater than when conducted in conjunction. The keen rivalry between two post-primary State schools in a small community ’! bred ill-feeling. If there was one school pupils for diverse walks of life would be educated side by side to the advantage of all. Under amalgamation, it was presumed that the Education Department would lay down a definite course of instruction, thus ensuring that the interests of technical education would be fully conserved. The objection to- amalgamation by the Technical School Board in the past was traced by Mr L. A. Charles, who said that amalgamation could be brought about only at considerable immediate cost. The High School was working on an overdraft and the Technical School’s credit would be about £2OO. If the change took place, the Department of Education would have to bear the cost. The danger in an amalgamation school was that technical education would not receive the prominence which his board considered it should have. A The Technical School Board felt that it would favourably consider amalgamation only if there Hvas an adequate guarantee that technical education would be given the place which the board considered it was justly' A entitled to on the curriculum of the amalgamated schools.

Mr Bowden explained that all expense of amalgamation wotild be borne by the Education Department, and the new board would represent both schools. In the event of the ■proposal becoming an accomplished fact, he was assured that there would not be separate schools for girls and boys. Mr W. T Lill said experience showed that two schools were a wilful waste. The chief point was that amalgamation would benefit the pupils of both schools.