DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 20, 18 October 1901, Page 4

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

In. the twenty-fourth annual report of the Minister of Education, presented to the House of Representatives appears the following-, having reference district high schools, which we'publish for the information of our leaders :

Representations having been made to the Department that some of the Education Boards found a difficulty in carrying on the secondary work of the district high schools without intrenching upon the funds for primary- education, a vote was taken m the last ion of Parliamentto provide the money for the additional staff required for the secondary work in such schools. In accordance with a circular issued to Education Boards on the Bth January, 1901, .£3O per annum is granted to each district high school having not less than twelve pupils taking a full secondary course, together with a capitation of ,£2 per annum on each pupil. If the Board elects to charge no fees, an additional payment of <£4 per pupil is made—■ that is, an amount of <£6 per pupil in all is paid, in addition to the statutory capitation allowance of .£3 15s. •

The two chief conditions attached to these grants are :( I.)= That all pupils on account of whom such grants are made shall have passed Standard VI., and (2) that they shall be taught in .separate classes by properly qualified teachers. By this means free secondary education "may be afforded, at a comparatively small cost to the colony, in all places where it is found possible fcj establish a district high school. It is proposed, in drawing up new regu--1 itions, to provide some degree of secondary educatiou for the pupils ot Standard VII. in places that are too small for the establishment of such schools. It does not seem desirable, generally speaking, to set up district high schools in towns that already have recognised secondary schools, as the overlapping that would be introduced would be unnecessary and expensive. The question is more fully discussed in the report of the InspectorGeneral on secondary education (E.-12).