THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1926, Page 4

THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

A DISORGANISING EXPERIAIENT. [To The Editor. j Sir, — I have read with interest tlic.i report of tlie deputation of sc-hool committees to the Afinister for Education appearing in The Bxprcss, and I l>eg you to allow me a little space in your valuable paper to ask a few questions on the subject of the junior high school. In the first place, why are the country schools that will be affectecl by the change-over being kept in the dark? I notice that oue of the speakers at tlie deputation askecl tlie Hon II. A. Wright that the schcme should be carried out with as little experimenting as possible. Snrely the speakev knows that tlie schenie is pufely an experiment in Marlborough; and why should the Education Board experiment at the country children' s expenseP We are aesured that if the junior high school scheme is carried; out cmisolidation must follow, ancl that means that the country schools will be closed down, ancl that there will be three central schools. The Borough school would absorb tlie Riverlands and Grovetown infant classesRapaura, Marshlands, Tua Alarina' and Wairau Pa will have to atteixl the Spring Greek centre; and Fairhall will attencl Springlands. It seems that- the Borough people interested in the seheme have not thought of the consequences to the country children. Why eaniot they be eontented with the present education system in Marlborough which is equal to any education system in the world in the circumstances? And why send anyone to America to' investigato the inner workings of the system? I consider it is absolute rot to try and bring Marlborough's education up to the same standard as that of America where everyono is taxed for the education of the children, whereas New Zealand pays for it out of the Sj-ate' revenue. Another point is: What is going to become of the schools that are closed? Will they be sold or will they be left to be targets for the boys' shanghais and airguns? Again, is it right that the parents and teachers of the country schools who have contributed and worked to help make the play grounds, school gardens, ancl in many cases tennis cc.urts, etc., for the recreation of their children out of their own pockets, should be expectecl to stand aside and see their money and lahor scattered to the winds, for the sake of a certain class of people who want to see a fine junior high school building, ancl who do not realise what they are doing to the education of the co mtry child? Then, again, take the. question of consoliclation. Does any right-minded pei-son think that the parents of the infants who will have to travel to the centre by train or bus are going to1 allov the F.ducation Department to take their little tots to a place like the Blenheim Borough School, as they must traverse' tlie dangerous streets of thi town from the, station to1 the school ? Further, who is going to be responsible if an accident happens? Or, in case of sickness, who is jjoing to take them hon.e, as they will have no older L-rothers or sisters there to Inok

after them? There has been a big cry lately by the Government about the influx to the cities, and now the Education Department is encouraging this movement. If you give a child four or five years in the centre of a town, do you think that a youth or girl is going to take up life. again in the country, after having a taste of town luxuries? I also notice that the chairman of the Borough school said they had not much to complain about. I should think they had not. In many oases the children will not have as far to go as thev have at present, while the countrv school children in scme cases will have further to go to the railway station than it would be necessafv to travel to get to the Junior Hio-'b School. I write this letter with no illleeling to anyone interested in the education scheme, even if they try this Junior High School scheme for a year. W© have made up ouf minds that wo are quite satisfied with our present teachers and the education our children are receiving, and wish for nothing better ; and we think that w© might get a lot worse.

KEEN

OBSERVER,

R iverlands.