Rural Course 'or Matriculation.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 23 April 1918, Page 2

Rural Course 'or Matriculation.

HOUSEHOLDERS DEMAND

CHANGE

At last night's meeting of householders a, matter which, has been discussed of late was forcibly ventilated by several speakers and the manner in which the remarks were endorsed by the large and representative gathering showed how keenly the state of affairs existing is resented.

The report of the retiring committee, as already published, made pointed reference to the impossibility of securing matriculation passes at the high school because tlie Department insisted 011 a rural course.

Mr Blenkliorn, in opening the discussion on the subject, said no reflection on the teaching staff as at present constituted was intended, but he contended they were on the wrong track. They should have an educational course leading to matriculation instead of the present rural course. If farming instruction were needed they had an agricultural college at their back doors, but their cliil-'. dren were now practically debarred from entering the university unless tliey were .sent away to -other centres to matriculate. He thought the best course would be for tlie meeting to pass some strong resolution condemning the present course arid asking for the substitution of a matriculation Mr Blenkhorn said he had heard that one valuable local resident had decided to leave Levin because he could not get proper educational facilities here, for his children. He moved: "That this meeting of householders are strongly of opinion that the matriculation course, should be substituted for the rural course and that a deputation be sent to interview the Education Department on the subject." Mr D. W. Matheson seconded the motion, but asked why .-the rural course could not be kept along with the matriculation course. Mr Cork said he had sent his son to Palmerston because lie could not get the teaching he required here. In reply to Mr Parker, who asked what had been done during 1917, Mr Thomson said that the Committee did not have much power in the matter because the Government controlled the policy, liaving decided that the rural instruction course was necessary. Mr Matheson asked if Mr McIntyre would explain to the meeting why the rural course was started in the Levin school. Mr Mclntyre said that before the rural course was started the curriculum was similar to that of a grammar school, but when the Education Deparment spoke district high had 110 option ' ui i.| t:«k< a rural course. J lie •>"•••••' }>; ijv idt'-<!ih.ii r-i 01 -i tuition. had ;o l>e •.'••• • ii: ;1 to '.our . : | .'.j : ;: 1 I ;n -•I'.u'Clri outside liiO ■MUX' A !iu>!-:i!!<-eption exis>i<>.l ■ 717."!!!] io iv.\..]jiinations. i_'< v,as iJIIIIO xoi a smart pupil after two years of the rural course to get through the junior service and this had been done here, but there was never any intention of a matriculation course being taken in conjunction with the rural course under four years. When the course commencedMr Mclntyre said, he circularised parents asking them liow many would he prepared to allow their children to take the four years course. Ten gave tlieir promise but none of these children were allowed to stay the four years. They didn't give the course a chance. It was stated when the rural course came out first that the aim of rural district high schools was not examination. It was not the aim of file course to make farmers any more than it was the aim of the woodwork class to make carpenters or tlie cookery class to make cooks (Laughter). Its aim was that the training of hand and mind should go hand in liand (hear, hear). Mr Mclntyre thought it miglit be possible to restrict the rural course and so /lllow more time for the other subjects. The motion was unanimously carried land the Mayor, Mr D. W. Matlieson and tlie Chairman of the incoming committee were appointed a deputation to -submit the resolution to the authorities.