RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 802, 27 April 1910, Page 7

RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

DISABILITIES OF STUDENTS. PROTEST FROM MASTERTON. In connection with tho proposed "rural'.' courses 6f instruction at. tho District. High Schools at Greytowh, Carturtftii, Jtastertoii, Pahiatiia, and Levin, a diliicuity hag arisen-between the Wellington Education Board and the Mnstofton District High School Committee as to'tho alleged disabilities which students in the secondary department who desire to matriculate will suffer if they-, are .compelled to take a rural course of instruction instead of a "grammar school" course. At the . uieoting of the Ediitatioii Board yesterday, correspoiideiicn ii'om the Masterton. Committee Was fead.'lii its colamunication to the board, tLi coinniitto enclosed the following resolution, which had been passed at its' previou§ meeting:— "This cornmittce,' having heard the! Chief' liispect6r's explanation of the new rural coilrso, aiid having cafefully considered it; is still strongly Of opinion, that the rural course should not.be compulsory, ■ aiid , renews its protest atalnst its being made' so, and is further of opinion that children attending collhtry district high sofidols shbuld haVo the sanie facilities fof passing the matriculation examination as those enjoyed by children attending the city schools.." The committee nidde it. clear that in forwarding its resolution it was not pruttetirig agaiilst the rural course itself. The nlembeffi could 6ea that the course Would bb'of very high practical Value, but wished to Joint out that to coniinence it'with the, seebndary classes of th 6 District High Sdhtiols, and to c6mpel all secondary clais pupils to take, it, aiid "with, it a .four years course before rriatfioulation, is to pratitically slam the dOOrs of the University in the faces of ehildrert Of poorer parents, aiid to raaku university education in Nejf Zealand the exclusive privilege of tHe wealthy.

The chairman said that he was given k> understand that the programme, was not •• an impediment, as the Masterton Committee seemed to think. Mr. T. E. Fleming, inspector, said that there was some misapprehension existent with respect to what was implied by the phrase, "four years' course." What was actually rnoant was that the work accomplished by a matriculation student should, be equivalent 'to, a four years' course— according to the University Senate. A clever student would do the work in les3. The fact of the matter was that the board had accepted the policy suggested by the Education Department with regard to the programmes of work for rural high schools. That being "so, they could not afford, for reasons ;of finance and staffs, to give the , scholars. in these schools the option of a ."rural" course and a" "grammar school" course. It was quite possible for a , student who had taken tho "rural course," and covered tho work -properly, to matriculate. Mr. Allan: Would the scholars bo better equipped if they took the "grammar school" course? ' . , , Mr. Fleming: They would certainly be better trained. Tho llasterton Committee ho went on had had the position dearly explained- to, it. He added that the committee had met him very courteously in this jnatter, and suggested that his report to the board on tho rural high soiiool course he referred to the Masterton ' Committee for consideration. [The main points of Mr. Fleming s report were as follow;"(a) The main objects to tho proposals were (1) that it was compulsory, for the first and second year students; and (2) that scholars who wished to pass the matriculation examination or prepare for any professional course were seriously handicapped. . ' "(b) At each school, a modification of the programme was arranged whereby those who wished to enter for matriculation were enabled to devote some time to Latin. Tho headmaster and his staff in each case were satisfied that the work of matriculation could be covered in four years by these scholars. There were thus two groups of scholars, a 'Latin' grouD.

and a 'non-Latin' group, the former representing si small proportion. of the sdholiirs, except iii Mastcrton, where tho proportion was equal. Experience had shown.that of tho 'Latin' group few remained longer than two years, and that tho time devoted to that language was of very little benefit to the scholars. 'At Cartertoni Pahiatua, and Levin,' continued Mr. Fleming, 'the programme was generally commended, and even the Masterton Committee could riot deny that it benefited the majority of the scholars.'"]