SECONDARY EDUCATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 63, 17 March 1943, Page 4

SECONDARY EDUCATION

PLEA FOR CHILDREN IN' COUNTRY AREAS

A plea for improved facilities for the secondary education of children in the King Countrv district was made by Mr. W. P. Mead (Raetihi), when suggesting at a meeting of the Wanganui Education Board yesterday that a report on the possibility of establishing a suitable high school might be prepared. After a short discussion. Mr. Mead agreed to a suggestion made by the chairman, Mr. E. F. Hemingway (Patea), that he should confer with •he senior inspector of schools, Mr. B. N. T. Blake, and again introduce the subject by notice of motion at the next meeting. Mr. Mead said he doubted whether 10 per cent, of the children in his district received three years of secondary education. It was a serious national question and the board might appoint a committee to go fully into the secondary education of country children. Mr. Blake said the King Country extended into other education districts. Such a report would have to be framed after consultation with other senior inspectors. The scheme he had in mind was the establishment of a suitable high school with boarding facilities for the children, said Mr. Mead. Children from outlying areas could be brought to the school on Monday mornings and return to their homes on Friday. Such a method would save hoarding costs and ensure that children did not lose touch with their homes. It would be an advantage if sufficient land were attached for a full agricultural course. Mr. Blake said that bringing down a report of this kind would be a large undertaking which he would not care to carry out on his own. After the chairman had suggested that Mr. Mead confer with the senior inspector, another member. Mr. W H. Brown (Palmerston North), agreeing with this view, commented that country children were entitled to all the secondary education possible.