SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11493, 28 January 1903, Page 5

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FHESS. Sir,—l should be glad of a little of your ppaxe to t-ake notice of some remarks contained in the letters from the Headmaster of the Boys' School and the Lady Principal of tlie Girls' High School, with reference to the Government's proposal to extend the number of free places in the High Schools.

It would appear that both Mr RevanBruwn and Miss Gibson are, theoretically, opposed to the attendance of pupils at the High Schools unless with the object oi" proeocdiiig to the University. They consider that, practically it is of no good to send young people to their sehod's ior a year or two, and that to increase the number of .such pupils would deteriorate the High ■Schools, and make them continuation or higher grade primary schools. That may l>o so, but, uniortun&tely, we Have no continuation schools litre, and many of our children want something more than they can gel at the public s'-Lcobj. Where are they to get it if not at the present High Schools? It seems to me that Mr BevanBrown and Miss Gibson theorise too much on the question of secondary education. They should K'ke a. liberal, as well as a practical, view of the matter, and tell us how the benefits of secondary education can l>e extended. not how it can bo confined to a limited class. They have no right to a.ssunie that fie* secondary education would be lightly valued. There a:e mitiiy millions of homes throughout the world to-day which appreciate free primary ■education, i.nd theie is not the slightest doubt that free secondary education would be as greatly valued by those depilous of taking , advantage of it.

I take strong exception to the opinion expressed in the letters referred to, that there is reasonable opportunity at present for pupils of primary schools who show ;ai aptitude for genuine secondary education. It is surely hardly necessary to remind any pei-son of ordinary intelligence that it is not always the prize-takers at our schools, nor the winners of scholarsliips, who distinguish themselves most in the end. I read somewhere not long ago an article in some publication in which the question was w-ked : "Where are all our senior wranglers?" And echo answers, "Where?" Do not teachers, find that some children's brains are of s'.owcr growth than that of others, and that the best quality of brain is that wluch develops slowly, but surely? Will Mr Bevan-Brovni, or any of his expert friends, tell v* that there is no morai. in the tale of the hare and the tortoise? With regard to scholarships, I venture, to affirm that there art* children who sit for tliem who get thrown out owing to the short time given to the various questions, and owing to the excitement of the occasion, but who have probably as much brain capacity as the one who scores the highest. Then again, there is the accident of birth. If a lad's thirteenth birthday takes place a few days before examination day he is precluded from sitting for it, even although he may be in the seventh standard, and has proved liimself a capable scholar. There are many cases of that sort.

I think it will be a lasting disgrace' to Canterbury .if the Board of Governors do not throw fine-spun theories and academic moraliiingi to the winde, and rise to the occasion by giving effect, far as is possible, to the Government proposals-, so that all the youth of our land, who aie deserving of it, shall have at least the oliance of receiving the best possible education obtainable. — Yours, etc.. PATER.