SPIRITED PROTEST.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17165, 23 March 1927, Page 3

SPIRITED PROTEST.

Presa Assoeiation.)

PROPOSED ABOLITION OF DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

(Per

DUNEDIN, Last Night. At a meeting of the Otago Education Board to-day, the Tapanui School Committee wrote protesting against effect being given to the remit adopted by a conference of South Island School Committees' Associations held recc-ntly in which it was proposed to close all dis/l'ict high schools in centres that had a population of under 500. It asked the Otago Board to use its influence against such a proposal. The reading of the letter of protest brought forth a chorus of "Hear Hears.' | The chairman said he had been , thunderstruck wh'en he had1 seen the resolution the conference had ; passed. It seemed to hira a retroj gvade step, and that they were re'ally taking' more interest in town i schools than in those of country ("Hear Hear). The School Committees' Assoeiation of Otago had always tried to do its best in the interests of the country schools which had not the conveniences or appliances of the town schools. They had a chain of District High ScYools from Cromwell, Alexandra,. Lawrence, Milton, and Mosgiel to Dunedin. That was on one main route. He woukl guaran- ' tee that inany children would not : see the inside of a secondary school if it were not for these District dligh Schols ("Hear Hear"). He thought the District High School movement should be encouraged. Ple • Avould move "That the Department be informed that the Board protests omphatically against the resolution passed." Mr Mitchell seconded the motion which was carried1 unanimously.