THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 3609, 16 September 1874, Page 2

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

This morning, a deputation, consisting of the Yen. Archdescon Edwards, Dr Bakewell, Messrs Rattray, J. S. Webb, C. S. Nicholls, Weston, and E. Smith, waited upon the Superintendent, in reference to the above.

The Archdeacon, who introduced the deputation, explained that the Rev. Mr enney’s connection with the High School ceased at the end of this month, and the deputation, as parents ot boys attending the school, were anxious to know what steps would be taken towards appointing a successor to tha tgentleman. His Honor : 'I he fact is we had a meeting ot the Education Board yesterday, and a conference with the Board of Advice recently appointed, and they had made certain suggostions which speak for themselves. We have adopted these suggestions, and I am in hopes that the school will improve by their being carried out. “At a conference between the members of the Education Board audthe High School Board of Advice, the following resolutions or recommendations were submitted by the latter:— I —DIVISION OT THE HIGH SCHOOL INTO LOWER AND UPPER DEPARTMENTS. 1. That the High >cbool should be separated into a lower and an upper division. 2. 1 hat there should be no entrance examination fur the lower school, and that no pupil under nine (9) years be admitted. ,T h j . at entrance to the upper school should be guarded by a suitable examination as to scholarship.

II —THE LOWER DEPARTMENT. That the lower department should consist of three forms ; that in Form I. no Latin should be taught; that in Forms 11. and I I, Latiu should bo taught to boys whose parents desire it, but that the time devoted to this subject should not exceed one hour per day. the chief aim of this department being to impart a thorough training in English and arithmetic.

111. THE UPPER DEPARTMENT. I. That the standard for admission to the upper department should be as follows: Reading—To read well any book of ordinary difficulty, with comprehension of meaning, and ability to explain tairly the meanings of words aud phrases. Writing from Dictation Fair writing and good spelling. English Grammar, including analysis of easy sentences i rithmetic Simple and compound rules. Practice, Simple Proportion, Vulgar Fractions Finite Decimal Fractions, and exercises in Square aud Cu>vic Measures. Geography— Chief physical fea.ures, political divisions, and principal towns of Furope and Australasia, with ability to draw fair outline maps. Iu addition to the above, boys who propose to euter the Latiu classes in the upcer department must pass in Latin, Grammar, and Accidence, and be able to translate into English easy Latin sentences not previously prepared. Boys who do not intend to take Latin must pass in one of the following subjects :—Mathematics, Euclid, Book 1., Prop. 1-32; Algebra—Four elementary rules, or : French—Grammar, translation into English of French sentences not previousiy read.

2. 'I hat tho upper department should be divided into two separate s des—the classical side, and tr.6 modern side.

3 That on the classical side the course of instruolion should embrace English, Matheina;ics, Latin, and Gretk; that the moeLm side, the curriculum should include Mathematics (including arithmetic), Latin (volimt iry), Modern Languages (including Lnglxsh), and a branch of IN atural Science; and that drawing and drill should be ineluded in the ordinary school course.

IV,-THE TKACH NO ST AFT. } .T“*t tive (5) regular masters and four (4) vihiung masters (Drawing, Drill, French, aud German) should be a sufficient staff to begin with, in the event of the proposed re* organisation being catried into effect.

2 That the following Wreoomtaended «g the staff at the outset .—The Rector (olassi* cal master), Mathematical Master, English Master, beuomi or Assistant Master (science), Commercial Master, Rector's Assistant (for school and boarding institution) l and that ea *pl°y**, •« they may be to l th l following subjects • F Tr.?’n Ger ? Dr , awin g. and Drill . n Sn. B f ar4 a Advice submitted /»in a scheme f ; r the payment of .'the sevetal masters, whereby each should receive a fixed amount payable out of a Government subsidy, and half of the proceeds of the sohoel fees, whim the other haU of the school fees should be divided among the masters m certain proportions. By this meana the masters would have a pecuniary interest id the success of the school There was also a recommendation submitted as to the charges to be made for board at the Rectory. After some discussion on the subjects brought forward by the Board of Advice, the following resolution was proposed by his Honor the Superintendent, and unanimously adopted by the Education Board ;—“ (hat the thanks of the Education Bea d are due to the Board of Advice for the interest which they have exhibited in the placing the fligh School upon a satisfactory footing, and that the recommendations coo* tamed in their report be approved of add given effect to as far as possible.” The Board of Advice was appointed last July for a period of one year to recommend to the Education Board such measures in connection with the management and organiseturn of the High bch-ol as may be deemed advisable. It consists of seven members, namely.: The Chancellor and the ViceChancellor of the University of Otago tx officio ; Professors Miand and Macgregor. and Messra Cargill, Fulton, and Stout Mr Cargill w chairman of the Board, and Mr Hialop acts as secretary. The Board has met weekly, and up to the date ef the report nine meetings had been held. Owing to Major Richardson’,absence froto the Provine® only six members have been able to attend, hut it may show the interest taken in the work to state that out of fifty-four possible, there were forty-eight actual attendances on the part of the members at the nine meetings. lb® Archdeacon : When is it proposed turn ? 6 n6W Bch ® me BhaU come into opera-

His Honor: Immediately, or as soon mthey can be given practical effect to. The Allocation Board has agreed to them. The Archdeacon : it would be necessary to appoint an English master; and I presume the appointment cannot take place under six months. r

His Honor : At all events there has been no unnecessary delay in giving effect to these recommen ations.

The Archdeacon ; If the High School is to remain a High School, and compete with tHgh 'chools in other Provinces the mastera must be first-rate men; and those cannot bo obtained without Ample time is given, His Honor : I have no doubt you may that* tte Education Board being equal to

The Archdeacon : In the meantime six ormn.months may perhaps be lost. I* lß Honor ; 1 don t think necessarily so. We can carry out the suggestions in less time than that. At all events no time will be lost, I can assure you. We are also, of course, fully alive to the importance of the Quality of the men.

The ARCHDKacoN: The teaching of French at present is very unsatisfactory. There ia no French master.

80 1 believe. I fancy that school 9 aWa a better day upon the

The Archdeacon : A very serious thine is that so many pupils are going away from the Province j and f am in a position to say that there are other parents who have made up the.r minds to send their children away • therefore delay is dangerous. J * : ft is the consciousness of that that has caused the Government to avail itself of the machinery of this Board of Advice which consists of men competent to deal with the question. f>r Bakewell pointed out that modem languages, such as trench and German, could only be properly taught hr mastera who were natives of those countries, and the instruction |raust be daily. Were the deputation to understand that this was a final scheme settling the status of the masters of the school, and answering all disturbances

His Honor ; Yes. It fixes the rate of remuneration, and puts the boarding establishment on a satisfactory footing. Of course E have not read to you the details ; but merely given an outline of the leading features of to The deputation then withdrew.