EDUCATIONAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3852, 2 October 1928, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL.

.JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. FOXTON CHAIRMAN’S SUGGESTIONS. At last . night’s meeting of the Foxton D. High School, the chairman submitted the following suggestions for consideration: —•. “The reports of the Public Schools syllabus Revision Committee. are at present receiving the consideration of the Education Department and a definite pronouncement of the Department’s future policy should be forthcoming at an early date. “A most important aspect of the majority report submitted, is a recommendation that a start should be made with what is called secondary education at about the age of 11 or 12, that is, at the age at which the average child leaves standard 4. The suggestion is that certain subjects should be begun in standard 5 and continued throughout the child’s school career. To effect this it is suggested that the present primary schools be dicapitated, that is that standards 5 and (i be taken and attached to secondary schools, which would of necessity have to be increased in number. In country districts it is suggested that the District High Schools system be developed to meet the needs of country children. “W'e have now in Foxton a wellestablished District High School, attended almost wholly by pupils drawn from the primary department of the school. There is, I think, only one pupil from an outside school —Oroua Downs.

“Our High School is meant to meet the needs of, not only Foxton, but the surrounding district, and should be attended by secondary pupils from Moutoa, Oroua Downs, Bainesse, and possibly Rangiotu. “Present indications arc in the direction of transferring all pupils of standards 5 and 6 to post, primary institutions, wherever same can be reasonably effected, and I wish to submit to you and your committee the following suggestions for your serious consideration. 1. That Foxton District High School be created, the centre for secondary education for all pupils above standard 4 from the following schools: —Foxton, Moutoa, Oroua • Downs, Bainesse, and Rangiotu. 2. That in order to effect this the Wanganui Education Board be asked to provide a motor ’bus to convey the pupils to and from the school, as is done in certain Auckland districts. . “The effect of carrying out the above suggestions which are entirely in keeping with the spirit of the majority report would be to concentrate post primary education for the district in Foxton. It would necessitate the appointment of an extra male teacher and the erection of an additional room. The teacher appointed would have to be qualified to teach elementary secondary subjects and to drive a motor vehicle. It would also probably necessitate his residing at, say, Rangiotu, which would each day be the starting point of the, conveyance. (Moutoa already has a suitable motor service). “Without doubt consolidation is coming. I am submitting these suggestions to the committee in order that our district shall receive early consideration. The big centres of population are almost bound to receive first consideration, but the circumstances of this district are so distinctly favourable to the establishment of some such scheme as that which I suggest that I feel that there is no< need for delay.

“From the point of view of Foxion itself, considerations other than those purely pertaining to education, make the scheme desirable and I sincerely hope that you will bring this matter before your committee for early consideration.” Particulars regarding out-lying schools of the district are as follows: — Roll Estimate, of

A grand total of 47 Basis 12J per cent, of roll for standard V. • Basis 8 1-3 per cent, of roll for standard VI. The committee decided to communicate with the Board on the subject.

ended pupils in 1927 St’s V. & VI. Moutoa 20 2 2 Oroiia Downs 70 9 6 Bainesse 52 7 4 Rangiotu 85 10 7 Total 28 19