FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 292, 13 June 1929, Page 1

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

scheme, however, the Minister did not care where the knowledge came from so long as an effective scheme was put into operation.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL SCHEME. That the new junior high school scheme wh ch it is proposed should be introduced into New Zealand’s system of education, was in operation in Scotland half a century ago, was a disclosure made by the Mayor of Wellington at a civ: f- reception in Wellington on Tuesday , . members of education boards attending a conference in Wellington.

“ I have been interested particularly In the statements made by tils Minister of Education and the resolutions passed by the various educational meet:ngs we have had in Wellington, deai.ng with the development that is proposed in connecting junior high schools with the primary divisions of education,” said the Mayor. “ What interests me is that fifty years ago, in the Scottish parish schools where I was educated this scheme was in vogue then. We pride ourselves in New Zea’and on our advanced system of education, yet this particular scheme was in operation in Scotland many years ago. It would be wise for us in these days to look to Scotland a little more.” (Laughter.) In his address, the Minister of Educat’on ('lon. H. Atmore), said that what GL- Mayor had said was not altogether surprising. One had to admit that England’s northern neighbours real sed very much better and earlier than did the English the need of a good education for boys and girls. When the stealing of English cattle by the Scots became not so easy as hi herto, the Scots sharpened up the bra’ns of their young foik and then sent them across the border. (Laughter.) In New Zealand, we found that the districts that paid most attention to education were Otago and Southland. There was no doubt we could learn a good deal from the parish schools of Scotland. In connection with the present junior high school