HIGH PREPARATORY CLASSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3572, 5 October 1916, Page 4

HIGH PREPARATORY CLASSES.

To thk Editor "Gcabdu*/*

Sir,—The suggestion offered by the headmaster .of tin- Jhgh School, at 9. recent moisting of "the Board of Governor, to institute-preparatory ciasse* irom Standards 111. to VJ. f seems to mo to be somewhat inconsistent witb the proclaimed views of Mr TVatterp in days gone by. The: inauguration of , such classes would certainly mean .that 1 such would be effected at the expense ) 'of the primary schools. Does he wish. to infer that the instruction imported in the upper Standards at our primary schools does not meet the requirements, so far as languages, etc., axe concerned, for efficient entry to the High School f If so, perhaps he will pall to, mi nd "a letter sent to thi Borough School Committee by him in November, 19U2, containing the infor~ roaticm that he wished to give a dux modal as " a small return for_ the offi-cif-nt primary education his throe children had received there." Again, when taking; his seat on the Technical School Hoard, and several times since, Mr "\Vatters has complained- of over-. lapping. Surely this latest move is overlapping with a vengeance, since it is suggested to take pupils up to their „ ' f proficiency ,certificates. Of •. course, the ■ roi:on,t regulations' affecting Junior national, scholarships may have altered „ •Mr'" "Watters's opinion regarding- the utility of -the primary schools from Standard Hi. upwards. I 'am afraid, sir. there is a tendency to create" a „ caste line in our primary system, an avenue wherein only the prospered few . may wander. If so, the sooner tbe proposition is ousted the better. At • any rate,, stronger reasons than those mentioned by Mr "Wattcrs, or «ren "Anxious Parent," should be forthcomhifj before the High School Board sanctions the introduction .of the preparatory classes. It may bo that the requisitions governing secondary acboofe are'on th« iines of others —i.e., masters are. precluded from newspaper cpntrojvf»rßj\ 'If so. the opportunity is affordlod through their ■ governing ■ bodies^ffß by interview.' F have no desire to take advantage, but. sir. you will agree fhi.S matter is worthy of discussion.— NO CASTE. ,