THE DOUBTFUL POSITION OF DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1244, 13 April 1880, Page 2

THE DOUBTFUL POSITION OF DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.

The following i§ a fggifmg of the pf*ppp [ bearing the abpyg title read by Mr. Peattjg at the late conference of the Educational Institute of Otago In Otago, District High Schools are supposed to occupy a place in the educational ladder, intermediate to the Otago High School and the University above, and the district schools, side schoojsj anc( general ignorance In their relationship to the upper ruridles their position is doubtful. The public are of opinion that one high school is, or ought to be, as good as another, and that their sons and daughters should leave the district high schools direct for the

University- The Education Board, however, is of a different opinion, and this opinion is plainly seen in its regulations respecting its junior and senior scholarships. These show that the work to be expected from district high schools is two full years lower than that Bopplied by the Danedin High School. Bat the Board's administration of these scholarships exhibits doubtful justice or policy. The competition for these scholarships should not he open to pupils of the Otago High School. If that school is higher than the district high schoob, it is unfair to the Litter that its pupils should compete. Besides, the parents of its pupils are presumably above pecuniary aid. The present system of administering these scholarships tends mainly to support the Otago High School, and it is questionable policy on the part of the Education Board to so uphold a school jkSrhtch is well endowed in-depend£j-*af it. These scholarships should be allocated to its_ own .district, high school? in the firet instance. An extra standard would thus be added to these schools, and their position with respect to the district schools rendered leas uncertain.

The district high schools as at present constituted are but district schools with the additional work of instructing the pupils of the highest standards in any or all of the branches of "higher education," and that without sufficient and efficient aid to enable them to compete in the compulsory work of these standards with well established district schools. The pupils must be paragons indeed who can, in the course of a year, study two or three higher branches and at the same time compete successfully in the ordinary branches with pupils who have been studying these alone. In addition, the Board seldom makes any distinction respecting the attainments of the assistants supplied to its high schools. Again, the Education Act and its consequent regulations prescribe the subjects to be taught in district schools, bat that does not hinder the teaching of any or all of the higher branches there. In many schools these are taught, and taught free. High schools are obliged by law to charge fees for these, and consequently their position is still more uncertain. Even though the Board's scholarship regulations seem to allow this irregularity, there can be little doubt of its present illegality. Mr. Peattie goes on to say—" Ido not say that it would be improper to grant leave to the district schools to teach any or all of the higher branches. Ido believe that the sooner all teachers of district schools are able and entitled—like the parish teachers of Scotland in days gone by—to teach classics, mathematics, and even modern languages, the better will it be for higher education and high schools ton. But what I now contend for is that the present arrangements with respect to district high schools tend but to. make their position uncertain —that the Education Act prescribes certain thing 3, and that these are not carried out wholly in accordance with the Act. u There is a minor matter—of Board management—which helps to increase the doubtfulness of the position of outlying high schools. It is well known that a knowledge of drawing is a great aid in ail school work requiring pen or pencil. Well, the outlying high schools have but lately been favored with a fortnightly visit from a drawing-master, while all the district schools in and around Dunedin Have long been receiving weekly visits, and a certain school, not under the Board, receives bi-weekly visits from nearly all the art staff. '• It ia the usual belief also that Rectors of High Schoots receive salaries in advance of all others in the profession This is not the case. By the Board's regulations, which fix the salaries of Rectors. great latitude is allowed to headmasters of district schools, and it is very easily possible, in populous communities, fur the latter to earn salaries much, in excuss of the fixed remuneration of the former. T%e possibility of such an event exhibits a&fther uncertainty in th»> position of district high schools. Teachers with inferior certificates may thus obtain larger emoluments, and the post of headmaster of a district school m;iy thu3 come to be scrambled for even by Rectors of high, schools, while rectorships will have to be filled with the rejected candidates {or head masterships."