LONGER STAY AT SCHOOL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 77, 23 December 1937, Page 10

LONGER STAY AT SCHOOL

Two Years Not Enough, Says Professor DEVELOPING PUPILS DUNEDIN, December 18. The importance to pupils of the third and fourth years at a secondary school was emphasised by Professor G. E. Thompson, when speaking at the Otago Girls' High School break-up ceremony Professor Thompson said that both from the point of view of the University and of the pupil's later life it was desirable that these years should .be spent at school. "I notice from the report that the average stay of a pupil at the Giris'1 High School is two years and a half ,j ' ' Professor Thompson said. "I suppose it is the same in most schools, but to me it is disastrous that this very expensive part of the New Zealand education system should be availed ' of only to that very small extent. "I think the years spent at school, partieularly the third and fourth years,are productive of development and change in the life of a girl or boy that no other year will produce, no matter what walk of life may be entered. It is difficult to find any year that will make. up for those." On the university side, Professor Thompson added, it was' well . knowt. that the time boys or girls spent in post-matriculation classes at a secondary school improved them much more than a similar time as a university stu-. dent, and those who went to the university after two years post-matricula-tion work were kings and queen1* among their fellows. Perhaps it could not be helped, but it would be desirable if the post-matriculation period could be extended, so that the young people of New Zealand could grow up to be an educated democracy.