JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1691, 26 November 1925, Page 5

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

(ARE THEY PREMATURE 1 COMMENT FROM MATAMATA. The Matamata Record writes: Matamata Junior High School has been in existence ■ a fe w months only, but it is-already proving of value as a guide io 'policy in regard to educational institutions in rural districts. There is little doubt that the scheme is along -the right lines, ‘but it is equally obvious that the cart has -been put before the horse;, in other words, the consolidated primary school should have preceded the junior high school. As may have been foreseen by educationists, there is some difficulty in getting uniformity of results and in handling under the one system a large number of pupils who have been taught under the varying conditions obtaining in the several district schools they come from after passing standard four. In the out-district schools .there may be a teacher on half time, -or one teacher only, either male or female; or the place may possess a head teacher and an assistant. In any •case, each head of the school has his, or her. system —or' 1 lack of system—and each is different from the others, so that a queer medley of views and methods and habits is represented in the several batches of boys and girls to the central junior high school. Then the scholars from the centre itself— Matamata in this case—will usually represent about half of the total of tho junior pupils, and these, too, have in the present instance come out of different hands and were trained under •different conditions from those that no/w hold sway over them more or less effectively. ‘Consequentupon these .and other factors, it is inevitable that it will take some years to recast the •whole syseni and mould things to the .new requirements, and therefore no extraordinary achievements should be expected in the meantime. • •Matamata is first in the field in New Zealand in the matter of junior high schools in country districts, and while this fact may give a little justifiable parochial pride we must be prepared for the unavoidable ups and. downs common to any form of experimentation. Given due time, the Matamata Junior High School will amply justify the faith of the Minister of Education smd of the local member of the Education Board in its efficiency and general desirability; but the rest of New •Zealand would be wise to go straight, ■out for the consolidated primary scho>* first. The transport for the whole of the scholars might almost as well be provided as for only those who pass standard four. The teaching at a consolidated primary school would be on a much higher plane than can possibly be given where one teacher has to handle several classes, sometimes in •one room, and all subjects. The children, after passing standard four, would •be far better material for the junior high school than the product of the present system can possibly be. When the Matamata Junior High School was provided it was said that a consolidated school must come also. That is no doubt correct. It is a pity, in the light of experience, that it did not /.come first. But the sooner it arrives 1 the better for the children and for those responsible for the latter stages ■of their education. The generation of children that is taught first at a consolidated school, •by a staff of experts, then sent to the junior high school, and on to the secondary schools, where desired, is going to get the finest education that is likely to be evolved.