JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16781, 26 April 1926, Page 8

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Being interested in education, 1 have read with interest the letters over the signatures of Mr 11. J. AVcrnharn and "Education." The feature that impresses-me is that each deals in sweeping statements and makes no effort to produce arguments in support of the same. 1 have made inquiries, and have reached the conclusion that no .unnaimous support has been given to the proposal to establish a junior high school in Hamilton because it is recognised no real need for such an institution exists and because Ihc disadvantages far outweigh the supposed advantages. In support of this statement I present the following facts:—We arc fortunate in possessing two excellent secondarv schools, the High School and the Technical" School, in which the needs of pupils requiring postprimary education are very thoroughly and efficiently catered, for. The establishment of the suggested junior high school would very seriously disorganise' these two secondary schools for the following reasons: The secondary schools depend almost entirely on the pupils from the primary schools coming forward each yi.ar after passing Standard 0. The establishment of the junior high school would cut off the supply of these pupils for two years, and thereafter a much smaller number than at prcsen 1 would reach the secondary schools, as one of the professed values of the junior high ■schools is to eliminate a considerable number of pupils who it is considered would not benefit by advanced secondary education. (No one has shown why this process of elimination cannot'be quite as well done as it is at present in the upper classes of the primary school and the lower forms Of the'secondary). The effect, then, on the secondary schools would be lo reduce their attendance considerably, resulting in a corresponding reduction in the staffs of these schools with an inevitably decreased efficiency, as regulations provide that where a considerable reduction in The grading of a school takes place the highest placed teachers arc the first to be transferred. From the taxpayers' point of view a considerable sum would be spent in providing post-primary education for pupils, while existing-sec-ondary schools would be partly emptied to provide the pupils, and the accommodation already provided there would be lying idle. This would be sheer waste, if, as lias been suggested, the junior high school were attached lo either of our present secondary schools the other secondary school would suffer considerably. In most places where junior high schools have been provided there were previously no regular secondary schools, so that our position is mil on tin. same fooling. II is quite natural that in a small township there would be, as "Education" slates, a general feeling of satisfaction over Ihc possession of a new educational establishment, but the real value of .such a school could he judged only afler some considerable lime, and then only from Ihc outside opinion of someone who could make wide comparisons. No such opinion of an encouraging character has been made, in New Zealand, so far as the writer's knowledge goes, aid the headmasters of

the large secondary schools in Auckland when asked for their opinion in connection with the Kowhal Junior High School (admittedly the oldest. largest and best junior high school in New Zcaalnd) were far from enthusiastic. The junior high school movement has been extended to a much greater exloi\l in the I'nited Stoles than in . any other country, and the outside world docs not hold the resulting educational . diplomas of the United Stales in very high estimation "Education" suggests that such a school would relieve congestion in the primary schools and that-the resulting loss to these schools would soon bo made up by the natural increase in the school population. "Education" is apparently not aware that there, is no congestion in the primary schools of this town: indeed the opposite is the case, and the natural increase of the school population is not sufficient lo keep some of the schools in their grades. "Education" is also evidently not aware that no extensions to primary schools in this town arc either in progress or arc contemplated. Inquiries regarding the various primary schools of this town result in its being shown that the Franklon, Hamilton West, and Whitiora schools can each easily accommodate 1">0 . more pupils than are attending, the forest Hake school 100 pupils, while on the East side of the river the Hamilton East,'Fairfield, and Hillcrcst schools can each accommodate from about SO lo 100' more, pupils, the Hamilton East School being the, only school that is carrying anything like its full capacity of pupils. "Education" s'ates that Ihc only opposition he has heard to the junior high school movement comes from the teachers. I find, on the contrary, that , in almost every case the idea of the existing junior high schools in New Zealand was initiated, fostered and carried into effect largely by Ihc influence and energy of prominent teachers in the districts concerned. I also find that amongst the teachers of the primary schools in Hamilton the large majority are not in the least opposed to the proposed school, as they are merely boarding in the town and will merely be transferred to similar position's elsewhere. In the cases of headmasters and first assistants who have acquired homes hero and who will be the first lo be transferred, there is a natural feeling of dismay at,the prospect of a forced sale of their property with the invariable loss associated with such a sale.

"Education" places an undeserved slur on our primary schools when he asserts that a junior high school would exert a desirable and uplifting influence and would promote an esprit dc corps and beneficial influence that arc impossible in our primary schools. Surely such a condemnation ought to bear a signature and not be uttered from the security of a nbm-dc-plume. It is difficult to follow the process of reasoning from which "Education" concludes that pupils from various districts can, in three years or less, develop a better esprit de corps than is developed amongst the pupils of one district and school where love for and pride in their school has been fostered for periods ranging up to 10 years. The magnificent response from parents and pupils alike as illustrated at the recent school fetes in Hillcrcst, Fairfield and Whitiora. is an eloquent tribute to the splendid esprit de corps prevailing. The present difficulties of the school committees would be greatly increased by the establishment of a junior high school. 'Grants for maintenance are calculated on the average attendance at each school, and these grants arc barely sufficient for the purpose. The removal of the upper classes from a school would result in a considerable decrease in the amount of the annual grant, although the amount of work needed in cleaning and general maintenance would remain approximately the same. The effect of the establishment of a junior high school in Hamilton so far as our primary schools are conc-ined would be to remove standards 4, 5 and (i the first year, and hereafter all pupils over standard 4. This would remove from most of the schools about two-fifths of the pupils now attending, and would bring about the immediate removal of the present headmasters and first assistant, with a possible exception in the case of Hamilton East. These teachers are presumably the most efficient in our schools, and their services would be lost to our pupils, who at the junior high school arc generally taught by younger teachers of lower grading status. Here again (as in the case of the existing secondary schools) the present primary schools would be left half-empty, and considerable expense would be incurred in providing other accommodation for the pupils removed from the primary schools to the junior high schools.. Here.again the taxpayer would have difficulty in seeing the justification for such waste. The chief objections, however, that 1 sec to the. proposed school appear when one considers the matter from the point of view of the parent, who naturally wants to know-how it will affect his child. It is quite certain that our children will bo taught by less experienced teachers. Wo shall be required to spend more on their school books. Wc shall in most cases be obliged lo buy a bicycle or provide other means of transport for our children, as the Department, provides transport only in the ease of pupils who require to travel a considerable distance. Whore transport such as a '•bus is provided, there will be present the objectionable features lhat are always associated with the travelling together of parties of children in trains or other conveyances. A further objection will lie lhat our children at the tender age of, say 10 years, will be obliged to travel considerably greater distances than at present, and this hardship will be intensified in had weather. At present, our children in the upper classes of the primary schools arc generally able, to conic home to lunch or lo a hot midday meal, but this would be impossible if they were required to travel to a central junior high school. At present these young children are often sent lo school even if they are feeling rather poorly, as it is a simple matter for (hem to return (he short distance home if they do not feel better. If attending a centrally situated school these children would cither be. kept at homo under such circumstances and so much time would bo lost lo llieni, or they might be sent lo the central school and suffer a good deal through being unable, lo return home or through travelling a long dislancc home while suffering. At present we are aide to send our very young children or lower standard children lo school in Iho care of the elder pupils of standards T> and (i, and | feel satisfied that while going lo and I from school Hie 'little folks will lie cared for by their elder brothers and I sisters. If Ihc proposed innovation j became an accomplished fact a con- ] sidcrable amount of anxiety would he i fell by those of us whose little children would be deprived of the care, I company and protection afforded by ' their brothers and sister; in the upper j classes. I have endeavoured lo slat? I some of the difficulties and objections

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lhat would be associate!' with the establishment of a junior high school. The advantages of such an institution under the conditions existing here are largely imaginary, while the disadvantages are very real and demand most "earnest and careful consideration. It is such consideration that deters some of us from a rash and precipitate support of this innovation, and not. as Mr Wernham rather rudely states, "lack of knowledge or pure cussedncss." —1 am, etc., A PAHENT.