THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 231, 30 September 1926, Page 4

THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

The rcmarks of the Minister for Education before the deputation of school committees which waited on him at Blenheim regarding the junior high school system are of national, as well as local, interest. As far as we know, they iare his first specifie references to the subject sinee the notable announcement he made shortly after the portfolio of education was entrusted to him, that no further authorisations would be made for the establishment of this type of institution. The discussion brought out some elaboration of the Minister 's reasons for the decision reversing, or suspending, the policy of his predecessor, whose last favor in this matter the people of Blenheim and the surrounding districts are striving to turn to advantage in the face of no light set of complications. Reiterating his view that the whole proposition is largely experimental so far as New Zealand is coneerned — a view that is almost diametrically opposed to Sir James Parr's repeated expressions of confidence — Mr Wright proceeded to read the lesson, as it wero, from. the difficulties and uncertainties that had arisen in

connection' with. the Blenheim enterprise ; and it must be conceded that the local experience up to date certainly provides no sinall amount of justifloation for his cautiousness . The difficulties that have to be overcome in respect to the transport of children and the concentration of school work in country districts are by no means of a simple nature. It is to the point to note, however, that the Minister had nothing to say against the principle of the junior high school system, nor can anything be detected in his remarks in the nature of a suggestion that the community is committing itself to a mistaken course so far as the main purpose is coneerned. The uncertainty is as to the machinery and the cost ; and does not relate to the objeetive. The Minister 's impression. as he gave it on the occasion #of his original pronouneement, is that, from the national standpoint, the same results, or something not far short of them, can be obtained through a revision of the syllabus in the primary schools, which plan, he calculates, would be much less cost.ly ; and that seems to be as far as the Ministerial mind has got. Still. as a result of his replies to -the various points raised by the deputatiou, the Minister may be regarded as a party to the general agreement that, having proceeded so far, this community should go ahead and give the seheme a fair trial. "If the worst comes to the worst," he concluded, "and, through geographical reasons, the junior high school prove, unworkable here, we can soon return to the present system"; and everyone will appreciate Mr Girlmg's addendum that, in that event, the community will at least have some compensation for its pains in The shape of a very serviceable addition to the proportions of the Marlborough Gollege . The Minister is to be thanked for his detailed advice about the several difficulties brought uuder his notice. This is very helpful, and its tone slioirld encourage all coneerned in the advancement of the intere-sts of education to co-opcrate for an adequate triaT of the new principle. No factor is more important than the co-operation of the parents. and they have- good reason tO be satisfied with the Minister 's assurance that no coercion would be used in the matter of tli© transportiug of children over long distances.