HELENSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 November 1916, Page 3

HELENSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR

SIR, —Permit me space in your valued paper to draw attention to that most entrancing subject, viz., a High School at Helenaville. The question has been asked: "What has become of the proposals of having a High School here ?" and the answer is given by the residents of Helensville and adjacent districts: "Let it die a natural death." Quite so ; why shouldn't it? What's the use of High School here ? I quite agree with those most {worthy advocates of higher intellectual powers. Why should the poor young boys and girls be sent to a High School to be crammed with tomfoolery, when they could be so ably t aught to drive a cart or wheel a wheelbarrow, or work some other mechanical i ! contrivance? or the girls pare potatoes, shell peas, or burn their father's white shirt with an iron ? I quite agree with them. Then again, hear the voices of a wise few—" We believe in sending our children to the Auckland school; we wouldn't send them to the High School if there was one here." Here, again, I endorse what those most qualified Maters and Paters affirm. Look at the lovely ride they (the children) have every morning and evening, to say nothing of the early rising to catch the morning train, and again, coming home in the late train in the evening, which is very beneficial to the young folks' health. Why shouldn't they go to Wellington, that is the central town of the Dominion? I advocate, I urge. Besides, if there was a High School at Helensville there might be too much home influence of the children , and this would never do. They might learn to do duties at home which would not at all be useful in after life. In conclusion, I must say lam in perfect harmony with -the studious residents, and am heart and soul with the knowing ones. So away with the High School, let not our renowned district be contaminated with such a beastly obstructional edifice. Let the very memory of it be swept into oblivion, and let us who have the real welfare of the coming generation at heart, prevail.— I am, etc., The Knowing One. Helensville, 21-11-16.