SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4895, 26 October 1925, Page 2

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

LTo the Editor}. Sir,—Would you kindly allow me, as a comparatively recent arrival, to.* point out the shortsightedness of theparents on the Plains in not being whole-hearted in their support of the secondary education that is provided for their district ? This is a matter-, affecting not any one township of the Plains in particular, but the whole district. If parents would send their eligible children I am told that tnere would be quite sufficient k to provide , two teachers—an attendance of 31 being required—which would, of course, increase the efficiency of the school. , At present there is only one teacher, , and an average attendance of about seventeen. Let. me appeal to all the parents ifi the district who have children of school age to support the secondary department of the District High School. It is just getting on its feet now, and with the support it deserves it should easily be enabled to enrol enough students to be entitled.’ to another teacher. If, on the other hand, the support is withdrawn, and the school should be closed, the loss would fall not only on one township, but on the whole district, for it would take years of effort to have it reestablished anywhere On the Plains — as it did in the case of Te Aroha. .1 am informed that the Education Board is considering the question of establishing a commercial course in district high schools, and if that is decided upon shorthand and typewriting will be a part of the syllabus. In these days primary education is not sufficient to equip the. children for the strenuous battle of life,-and if they are allowed to leave school after passing Standard VI. they lose an important part of the mental, training that they need and that* should be supplied. A boy or girl gets through Standard VI. at .the age of 13 or 14, when they are just beginning to learn fo think, and another two or three years spent in 1 following a well-chosen and well-arrang-ed course of study will have an effect on the mind and character which will never be lost. No matter whether the boy follows a profession, a trade, or the calling bf a labourer; no matter whether'.the girl becomes a doctor, a nurse, a teacher, or a domestic servant, their work will be better done, because they have learned to think. Thanking you for granting me space, PRO BONO LIBERORUM.