SCHOLARSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1458, 5 June 1912, Page 6

SCHOLARSHIPS.

:,:;X.THE COMPETITIVE.SYSTEM, .-'v' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! -■'.■'; .iff' ■■■■'■ Auckland; June *. ■* '■■; Objections to tho competitive system of awarding scholarships tenable at secondary . schools were described by the Inspector- . General of Schools (Mr, G. Hogben) at to- '. day's sittiup of the Education Couinimsion. Mr. llogbcii sniil that the number of scholarships held is 1010 was 363, of which 172 were of the value of Xffl and . upwards, ami approximately the number held by country children. Ho was not convinced that it was necessary to give scholarships to town children beyond an allowance sufficient to furnish books mid to cover similar expenses. The money sot free by this moans might Ik- used to in- , crease'tho number of scholarships for country children. The necessity of givinu scholarships was alleviated by the fact that all those qualified for scholarships could obtain free places. ■ . ■ ■ "I should like to abolish tb.fi coinpetihvo . syslem of awarding- scholarships,' said, Mr. .Hogben. He said the clement of com'petition had an unhealthy effect i!i?oii some teachers, and upon a good many parerilsi'and children, and there was undoubtedly a certain amount of hardship in-.tlio'l'aet that some children'failed lo ■ wiii* scholarships through the accidents of "examination, or because, their best qualifies* were: not tested in tho examination, while others having received special coach* :i)!.s, : -or-..'having'a special aptitude for oxJ : anmiatiou'jwork, were, successful. ; Thfl 'awarding of scholarships should depend' solely, on tho fact whether tho scholar had reached tho standard which tho State has: fixed for ■ ■ further work in secondary schools. .-. The object which ho assumed: should be in view was Iβ givo country, children opportunities equal' to those afforded- to town children, and that could be done by awardiuu t>o oi , 70' more scholarships, costing '.SMSOO ■ per annum." The additional exnendituro'could be reduced by half if the town scholarships wore minted in tho mrumer ho suggested.. Tho expenditure on scholarships would.Dβ. about JJ12.000 instwid of WM. >' ■: ..Mr. liygbwi added that a good many town parents have lo make t-oine sacrifice to' keep thnir children at secoiWarv schools, as they lost tiio. wages winch their cliildren would possibly earn, ».,hat lv? did not think the State should sanction. 'iiiiv sacrifice.of the children in order lo nnablo the rest of the family to niamtam. themselves : more comiortablv. Unul y children attending town schools should be. accommodate,! at Hther '«»rdinEhou6eß ntbehed to tho schools, or at litensei I lionrdiinrho«.«s in which «mr sra|lW5 ra | lW ■facilities for evening work-, ami. where they'would be under so we supervision,