THE Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1878. HIGHER EDUCATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 25, 19 November 1878, Page 2

THE Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1878. HIGHER EDUCATION.

» In our last issue, we referred to higher education, and the proposals of the Wanganui Education Board re scholarships, pointing out the small advantages which would accrue to the conntiy districts from the proposals of the Board. We also promised to refer to a remedy which has been proposed by Mr Sanson for the defect complained of. That defect is, that the Board intends the scholarships to be held in Wanganui, thus necessita'ing a large expenditure by the paient of a child before any advantage can be gained from the scholarship. Under clauses 55 and 56 of the Education Act of last year, it is provided that the Education Board may, iip'on the application of a local committee, convert a public or common schoolinto a district high school. This district high school is to be in charge of a head master, aud shall have such a number of duly- - qualified masters and assistants as the Board consider necessary. At this school higher education — including classics, French, &c, &c. — is to be

taught, for which foes shall be paid by $ihe>pttpils at such rates us shall be fixed by regulations. The ordinary branches of education are also inquired to'lip giveu in the district high school.-;. Clause 51, refers to the scholarships, arid piovides that "the suecestul competitor for any such scholarship shall receive the amount of his or her scholarship only so long as he or she shall continue his or her education at aiiy school or educational institution under the control of the Board, at which the higher branches of education, are taught, but if there be no such school or institution in the district where the holder of the scholars ship resides, then at such school, subject- to inspection by a public school inspector, as the Board may approve of." In districts like the Mnnawatu, where there are no large schools, it is exceedingly improbable that any will be, for some time at least, proclaimed district high schools. Uwing $o .this faot, and the few opportunities, foe higher education which present, themselves "apart' from the public schools, it would be almost impossible for youths in the outdistricts to derive any advantages irom the scholarships, unless some alternative arrangement were made, by which .tHe ordinary educational machinery could be employed. , This Mr Sansoii proposes to do. He has given notice of the following resolution, which lie will move at the next meeting of the Board, viz. : — " That in the opiniou of this Board, where any school com^ rYrittee shall make arrangements with the head master for instructing a c^ss in the higher branches of education, as set forth in clauses 55 and 50 of the Education Act, 1877, during the fifth and subsequent hours of each school day, as provided by the regulations of this' Board, such school and class shall be a fit and proper place in the meaning of clause 51 of said Act for any successful competitors for the Board's scholarships to attend and receive instruction in such subjects, up to the value of any scholarships obtained." The effect of this resolution will be, if passed, to enable a committee to arrange with the master of any school in their district to form a class to be instructed after the ordinary schoolhours in higher education. Thus, in the districts in which they live, the holders of scholarships would be enabled to reap in the way of improved education, the reward of their industry and perseverance. For instance, a Foxton boy receiving a £20 scholarship would receive highor instruction after hours from the local schoolmaster to the value of that amount. We expect most of tJxe^ teachers wilT "be" "quite' "billing to fall in with Mr San'son's proposal, as it is almost certain classes for higher education could be formed in most townships. By this means, the salaries of teachers would be h?3reased, they would themselves be induced to study tbe higher branches of education, their knowledge of them would be re* freshed. and they would in many oases bo stimulated to greater earnestness in the performance of their ordinary duties. Their dutias are arduous, and necessitate a heavy and continuous mental strain. Every encouragement possible should there 1 fore be accorded them, for only by securing in the mind of the teachers the most perfect sympathy with their work will we be able to obtain a really effective education for the youth of the Colony. The proposal of Mr Sanson commends itself to our judg ment by its practical common sense, and coming as h does from a country representative to the Board, we hope as a matter of simple justice it will be accepted by that body. If such is not the result, the very best thing Manawatu and Rangitikei can do will be to throw off the shackles of Wanganui centralism, and demand separation.