FREE PLACES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 6

FREE PLACES.

AT SECONDARY SCHOOLS. INJUSTICES ALLEGED. HON. J, ALLEN INTERVIEWED. Tlio allocation of free places at sooondary schools was discussed by a deputation representing Wellington school committees, which interviewed tho Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister for Education) yesterday. Dr. A. K. Newman, who introduced tho deputation, said that it re- ' presented the Clyde Quay School Coinmitteo, and practically all tho other school committees in Wellington, and was concerned in tho question of freoplaco pupils, who had qualified for admission to tlio colleges, but could not be found a place. Somo of tho speakers stated that last year somo Bcliools apparently had an advantage over others in receiving notification first of their successful pupils. This had enabled them to get in their applications ahead of other schools. Cases wcro mentioned of girls from Clyde Quay and Newtown Schools whoso parents paid fees, though the children had qualified for a free-place. It was manifestly unfair, tho doputationists submitted, that thero should bo any discrimination because one pupil got in an application ahead of another.

Mr. D. Robertson, chairman of the Clydo Quay School Committee, said that there had not been a square deal last year with regard to theso frco-placo allocations. The Minister should remedy matters. Tho system as it stood was going to involve a very largo expense, and it was desirable that tho standard of qualification should be raised. They wanted tho boys and girls who bad tho brains to get the free : places.

Tlio Rev. W. J. Comrio, chairman of tlie Terraco School Conimiteee, agreed in tbo main with what Mr. Robertson had advancod, hut Btated that whilo tho Terrace School had gained some advantago last year, the procedure vras quite regular. Ho agreed that the present practice could work out unfairly, and it might bo, ho remarked, that tho Terraco School would suffor next year. Either the Government should make provision for all the free pluco pupils, or some other method of selection should be preferred to tlint of "first come first served." If a selection. was to lx> made, then tho selection should bo made in order of merit, not merely in order of time. They did hot admit that paying pupils should take preced L once of free place pupils. It was not rigflit that paying pupils should', as had been done, be admitted when free placo pupils woro waiting for admission. Ho suggested that if theoro was not room at the Girls' College for those who qualified,' the infant department thero should bo abolished to make room for those mho had qualified under the free plaoo regulations. Thero woro sufficient private institutions in Wellington to cater for those who desired to pay for tiheir children's education. For many of the girls it was tho opportunity of a lifetime, and a case of this year or never. Tho speaker concluded with tho hope that the injustice should bo removedl as soon as possible.

Mr. W. T. Grundy (headmaster Clyde Qiray) stated that next year the demand for free places would bo very much greater. Unless something was done almost immediately, tho result would be that very many more children would bo crowded out. It seemed to him uujiist tlhat secondary pupils should bo taught to the exclusion of tlioso wJio 'had qualified for free places. THE MINISTER IN REPLY. ORDER OF MERIT APPROVED. Tho Minister said he recognised that thero was something in what tho deputation had said, ; antl he would have tho matter carefully inquired into, and lot them know flip result. There were two or three important questions to bo dealt with. Ono was as to whether tho standard of freo places was a proper ono, and another was whether, tho State could affoTd to make provision for all thoso who had passed tho examination for free places. It might be that certain additional accommodation might bo secured by utilising to its fullest capacity the buildings for secondary education alone. That would diavo to bo looked into. With regard to tho general question as to a higher -standard, it was a difficult matter to decide. He pointed out that there were some pupils who went to these schools who did not stay very long. That was another matter to be investigated;. It was, impossible for him to deal with the whole matter of freo places during what was to be a very busy session—lie would take time to go carefully into the matte:* with that of staffing and teachers salaries, after Parliament rose. Ho would have tho main question looked inito immediately. So far as ho was conocmed, there would bo no discrimination. Personally lie could see no reason why tlie method of selection should not bp according to merit —lie could see 110 difficulties in the way of that procedure, nor any why it should not be adopted. Ho thought "that, unlcsß there was some unforeseen difficulty in tlie way, that immediate provision could bo made for selection in order of merit. "You will have a square deal with regard to free secondary education so far as I can give it," said' tho Minister. If, lie added, the expenses ill this direction became very much heavier, thero would bo a demand for local taxation, and he did not want to liavc to advocate tot. It mis;ht possibly come to that somo day—it had already been hinted at. But, lie repeated, lie did not want to he in tho position of advocating such a solicmo.