The Rural Course.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 7 December 1918, Page 3

The Rural Course.

liV EDUCATION" BOARD. Tho reforms desired in tin- 1 cun'ieiilum of the J>evin District High Sfhc-ni wero discussed at some lenptn nt t-'io Wellington Kduontion Board's mootimon Wednesday. Mr C. 1. Harkness. the 10-cal member, pointed out that t.v ftti-ef obstacle in the way was the nulsory rural course, which the .District High Schools were forced and c >- erced into taking to the detriment''! the matriculation course. He said the rural course was objected to by pupls. parents, school committees nnd teacniers alike. Families had actually been lost to Levin becausc the. children could, n ii "et the education tliey required at t .o Local school. These families mov -d awav and probably helped to congt- t Wellington and the colleges which ;•!- ready wore overcrowded. He dieclar.-rl that'it. was the hide-bound red tape >f 1 the. Education Regulations of the D partment, and even of tho Lducati o Board, that was in many oases rrepo sible for the congestion i>P the larp.-r towns, and that congestion would inevitably bring about serious eonscr|iieices as'hsul been_ shown by the recent epidemic in Wellington. Several other members spoke on t-'e subiect and as t'he outcome of the d---•eussion the following resolution is ' he submitted to tlie conference or -Jvl - catif.n Boardsto be held later on WH'li . view to 'ibtaining united action: . That it i« in. the.best interest- . I hitrher education in Now Zefl." j that tire regulations governing u - \ trict high schools be nlt-CM'C'l to ! v j - ; mit of either matriculation or I: • • ' rural course beinsr taught— nair" •' j that the rural course be made optional instead of compulsory as nt. l i''- ' scsnt.