Board Favours Junior College Inquiry

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 5

Board Favours Junior College Inquiry

A committee of inquiry, to investigate the proposal to establish a system of junior colleges in New Zealand, was favoured by the Aranui High School board of governors yesterday. The board felt there were many views to be considered and that a committee would provide a better appreciation of the proposal. The headmaster (Mr W. J. A. Brittenden) said in his report that junior colleges would help staffing at high schools with small sixth forms. At present, the drain on teacher resources was quite heavy. The universities might gain by screening out stage one students. But for this, they would require considerable control or influence over junior colleges, Mir Brittenden said.

“The system undoubtedly w® appeal to sixth-form girls who are often reluctant to return to the upper sixth form because they feel past high school dress, discipline and outlook,” he said. Mr Brittenden said that in Christchurch, a junior college would allow appropriate use of the old University of Can-

terbury buildings and would delay them being takes over by industry. However, the loss of uppersixth pupils would also be a loss of leadership and example within the school. It would mean further fragmentation of the present educational system.

The cost of building, equipping and running junior colleges could place considerable strain on the educational budget. Much hostel accommodation would also be required, he said. "The technological institute already do much that junior colleges might be required to do,” he said. Staffing junior colleges would further strain the resources of high school teachers and secondary school teaching would became a less attractive career. Mr Brittenden said that it would be unwise to reject the proposal. Persuasive arguments in support of junior colleges had been raised and should be thoroughly investigated by the Education Department and the universities.