PENROSE FARM SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 October 1930, Page 3

PENROSE FARM SCHOOL.

DEPARTMENTAL CIRCULAR. At the last meeting of the Wellington Education Board, Messrs. A. Donald and W. H. Jackson, with other members, uirged that boys who had passed the sixth standard should be admitted to the Penrose Farm School. Mr Jackson said on that occasion that the big obstacle to the successful establishment of the school, as he saw it, was the provision that pupils should have two or three years’ secondary education before going to Penrose. There were many farmers, he said, who could not afford, particularly in these times, to send their sons to a high school. He contended that they should consider the boy who had only passed the sixth standard as well as those who had received secondary education. Messrs Donald and Blalcc spoke in a similar strain. In the conditions of entry laid down by the Department, two years of secondary education were not named as an absolute requirement, but as one that would be preferred. From a cir-

cular issued by tlie Department under date October 17, a copy of which was before the Mnsterton West School Committee at its meeting last evening, it would appear that the Department has given some weight to the views expressed at the meeting of the Wellington Education Board. The circular ■states that applications for admission to the Penrose Farm School will be' received by the Department of Education up to October 31, from boys attending any primary, secondary or technical ■school in the Wairarapa district. The ■school is open to boys who have reached the age of 14 years and intend to become farmers, it is added. Preference will be given to sons of returned ■soldiers. Tuition in general farming and in science and cultural subjects will be given free. The boarding fee at the hostel is £36 per annum, payable in quarterly instalments. Boys admitted must undertake to stay at the school for from eighteen months to two years.