DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4677, 21 March 1924, Page 3

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS

AUCKLAND DISTRICT INCREASE MORE ASSISTANTS WANTED. Tn forwarding to the Education B -ard a list of district high schools, of which there are now twenty-five hi operation in the Auckland district Mr C. W. Gerrard, 8.A., said it would be a source of gratification to th? board to know that the total number of pupils in attendance at the secondary departments of these .schools war. 11'52. Two years ago the roll was 765. so that there had been an increase af 397 pupils, or fifty per. cent., during the past two years. *‘l am pleased to report that the efficiency o£ these schools is increasing from year to year,” said Mr Gerrard, “and that numbers of pupils in country districts are receiving secondary education who, but for the establishment of district high schools, would have been precluded from doing so. The difficulty cf obtaining qualified and efficient assistants is very serious, and I have forwarded recently a list af teachers who in the opinion of the inspectors would do efficient work. 1 have drafted a circular, copies of which are herewith enclosed, covering the scale of payment to assistant's in district high schools, the general nature of the work, and the possibilities of promotion, and 1 would re commend that a copy be forwarded to ea<-h teacher whose name is contained hi the list forwarded. By this means J hope that the board may secure the services of well-trained, well-quali-lied, and efficient assistants, and; that the standard of work in the district

high schools will be raised. -The following are the district high .schools in operation at present, with the roll number of each : Aratapu 49, Cambridge 44; Coromandel 19, Da'--gaville 28, Helensville 25, Huntly 1.9. Matamata 55, Morrinsville 25, Ngatea 12 Opotiki 43, Otorphanga 35; Paerea 52, Pio Pio 27, Rawene 31, Rotorua

75. Taumarunui 85, Tauranga 76, Te —A’-oha 37, Te Awamutu 55, Te Kuiti 75, Te Puke 57, Waihi 142, Warnworth 30, Whakatane 45, Waiuku 21 ” Mr Gerrard's circular after pointing out the need for more teachers said many teachers had in the past refrained from accepting high school wo’’k as they considered it as “specialised” work, and likely to lead to a “dead end.” In recent years, how-, ever, the position had completely altered, and many of the high school teachers had made rapid progress in the profession. The circular pointed out several desirable features con-, nect'ed with the work, instanced the good salaries that were paid, and pointed out that nearly all district .high schools were situated in desirlocalities.