EDUCATION OF GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 301, 14 September 1920, Page 5

EDUCATION OF GIRLS

A NEW HIGH SCHOOL

OPENED AT PALMERSTON NORTH

.By Telegraph.—Speoial Correspondent. Palmerston N., September 13. . The new brick High School for Girls in Palmerston North was opened by the Minister of Education this afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of visitors.

In asking the Minister to open the school, _ Mr. W. F. Durward, chairman of tli/e High School Board of Governors, pointed out that the High Scohol had been established in 1903 as a district high school, and' converted to a high school proper in 1904. In 1910 tho old building was burned down, and from its ashes sprang the fine new Boys' School in Featherstcai Street, which up till now had had to accommodate girls also. He gave credit to (lie two preceding Ministers of Education for having done their best for the district, under adverse circumstances caused by the war. He also eulogised the whole-hearted manner in which tho present Minister had met the constant demands on him for improvements in l»th primary and ordinary schools. Mr. Parr was a man with considerable vision, and would conduct our education system on true.British lines, instead of following the German methods.

The Minister said it gave him great pleasure to open the school. He congratulated' tho board and the people on having snch a fine building, worthly of the town and district. He believed that this was in a great measure owing to the persistent agitation,, backed up by the M.P._ for the district. It was pleasing' toi him to see. so many parents present taking an'interest in educational matters. Education was the big th'ing of today. It had been found quite possible to completely change the policy of a nation through education in the course- of a couple of tjenturies, and this had been particularly tlip case in Japan. Another country to do this was Germany, which for a couple of centuries had inculcated the military idea, until the people had become so obsessed with it that they considered themselves the foremost nation in the world, and they had very nearly vanquished several of the bigger nations. There was nothing which could not be accomplished, providing it was properly instilled into the minds of the young. New Zealand could make itself whatever it chose, and it therefore behoved those in authority to pay the greatest attention to the cause of education. To-day was the day of the economic independence of women, and there had been a great chnnse in the outlook for girls, due primarily to education. 'Women were now practically independent, -and were no longer dominated by men, and therefore must lie fitted fb take their places in the world by suitable education. 'Whilst agreeing with vocational training for girls,, he warned them to keep before them the necessity for a good general education so as to fit them for ordinary life rather than as specialists. Woman was the slieet-anchor of the world, and practically in their education lay the success or failure of the future. Physical hea?th should be the first consideration in the schools. Domestic education should not be neglected, as it was the right of every girl to look forward to the time when she would have the responsibility of a home.' He hoped that the fine building, which cost .£12,500. would become a veritable temple of learning for the people of the district,

The Minister also visited Longburn, and met members of the School Committee, who asked that a new school should be provided. After inspecting Ihe present building the. Minister agreed that thev were too dilapidated and out-of-date to be worth repair l ; and alterations. He stated that he would do liis best towards replacing them with a new school.