YOUTH OF TODAY SHOULD TAKE ROAD OF ADVENTURE, SAYS FORMER PRINCIPAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 4

YOUTH OF TODAY SHOULD TAKE ROAD OF ADVENTURE, SAYS FORMER PRINCIPAL

That, the youth of today should take the road of adventure in preference to the uninteresting and unimaginative road, which produced dullness and dreariness, was expressed by the guest speaker, Mr. W. A. Armour, at the annual prize-giving ceremony of the Wanganui Technical College, in the Opera House last night. Mr. Armour was principal of the college from 1912 io 1915. He was also a former principal of the Wellington Boys’ College and the Napier Boys’ High School. Mr. Armour was accompanied by his wife, who presented the prizes. Chairman at the ceremony was Mr. N. Reid, chairman of the Board of Managers of the college. Other official guests were Mr. J. B. F. Cotterill, M.P., Mr. G. P. Williamson, deputychairman of the board, board members, Mr. W. G. Gibson, president of the Old Boys’ Association, and Miss P. M. Ryan, of the Old Girls’ Association. “There is a well-known saying,” said Mr. Armour, “that youth must served.” He said that as an after- 7 * math of war older people, recognising that children were a great asset to the country, had set about with great determination to help them. This had brought about security. However, though security was necessary, he would like children to obtain a greater spirit of adventure and reach greater heights in the development that had already been attained by other generations. Mr. Armour traced the early history of the college, which he said was really the first Technical High School in the country. The establishment of a technical school in Wanganui was an interesting experiment in education. Because it was a success it was tried elsewhere successfully, said Mr. Armour. Discussing modem education, Mr. Armour was concerned with the shortage of male teachers in the secondary schools. He noticed that the two professions which required manpower more than any other, that of teaching and the church, were both y short of manpower. He thought it was a pity that in primary schools there were many capable men who found themselves in “beheaded” schools — schools that finished at standard 4. “Most of these teachers would go no further and I believe that if the age groups were altered and changes made it would give greater opportunity to more male teachers and give them the chance they do not get today,” he said. Mr. Armour thought there should be infant and preparatory schools up to the age of 9 plus, These schools would be staffed purely by women teachers, who would be the best acquitted for the task. Next grade would be junior schools from 9 plus to 13 plus. Then senior schools from 12 plus to 19 plus. The final schools would be Universities and Technological Institutes, which would have a status equal to Universities. “I believe that if this education system was adopted the difficulties arising from the shortage of male teachers ▲ would be finished,” said Mr. Armour. ’