THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, May 18, 1915. HIGH SCHOOL FOR HELENSVILLE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 6 May 1915, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, May 18, 1915. HIGH SCHOOL FOR HELENSVILLE.

It is with • pleasure the Echo notes that the old Helensville School Committee - was not satisfied with merely conducting local school matters with only a sixth standard eminence, but aspired to • still highe education by making an application to the Auckland Board of Education for the* establishment of a District High School, and as there was not sufficient time for developments, they have left something important for the newly^ elected Committee to see carried out. The new Committee happens to comprise the old members with an addition of two new members, who, we feel sure, will do their utmost tov/ards the object aimed at. It goes without saying that Helensville has many claims to put forward in favour of, a High School, and though it in the past that the Auckland Board of Education has generally thrown coldwater against applications made in out-districts, which, however have eventually gained their point, in this instance we can-, not conceive any argument against the application. Of course it is natural that the

pros and cons should be carefully gone over, but, so far as the Echo can submit, there is everything in favour of the application for a District High School in Helensville being granted, and absolutely nob a point to be raised in opposition. The painstaking and successful head-teacher here, Mr A.. J. Hill, has now on hand to further advance no less than sixteen pupils in Standard VI. Or course this large number of sixth standard pupils means a greater lax upon his time and abilities, and is more than the ordinary number in public country schools. Were the higher education offered these sixteen pupils, and of course there is a larger number coming on, it is more than probable the required number to maintain a high school syllabus and position would be at once forthcoming. And, besides Helensville proper, we have our immediate surroundings to draw upon to fulfil the requirements, and it is not too much to .anticipate quite twenty, or even thirty, pupils from a radius of thirty miles, some of whom would doubtless be boarders in the place. Our school system and educational advantages, being free and secular, confers upon the rising generation one of the greatest blessings upon earth, and every ■ advantage should therefore be taken of it. But in regard to higher education, it is too much to expect our youths to be always on "the trot. It is too far, and too much of a rush to Auckland for high school treatment, necessitating rising at 6 a.m,, and reaching home again a little before 8 p.m. Almost time for bed, and certainly with no inclination to study the lessons given out. There are many reasons besides, why a High School should be established in Helensville, but no doubt the "Hoard of Education will in due course be apprised of them. In the meantime there is bound to be a large amount of correspondence involved, yet we must keep hammering away until Helensyille's application is duly granted..