MATRICULATION FACILITIES.

Shannon News, 9 August 1921, Page 4

MATRICULATION FACILITIES.

IMPROVED COURSE -WANTED

Following on the action taken at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last week with regard to the desirability of securing an. alteration in the curriculum of the Levin High school in order that it may .become a high school proper, a deputation from the Chamber waited on the School Committee last evening with the idea of furthering the project and offering its co-operation and support. The dec. putatioh consisted of the Mayor (Mr D. \V. Matheson) and Messrs. J. W. Rimmer, F. J. Sloman, \V. Jenson and Howard Andrew. The members of the School Committee present were Messrs. F. G. Roe (chajrman), T. Hobson, C. H. Bould, J. W. Procter, G., Short. I)r. Row, and Rev. W. F. Grove. 1

In introducing, the deputation, the Mayor-explained that the Chamber had gone into this matter, with the result that the deputation had been appointed to wait on the Committee. The deputation was not there in tlie capacity of authorities on education, blit. as. parents, and to voice the feeling of-the; parents, of the town that they were not satisfied with the school curriculum and the amount of time taken up by the agricultural course, which .it.-w.as desired to have eliminated.

Mr Rimmer,said he spoke as a parent. His son matriculated in Palmerston .North last year, and, naturally, and as was the case with other parents, he wished his son to continue his education nearer home, but. this could not he. in Levin. If matriculation. was necessary to the

education of the children, every effort should he made to allow of that education being-continued in their, home town, where the pupil would have the benefit of home influence.. SHe was of opinion that Palmerston North was not. the most suitable centre, on account of the . train service, for the attendance of pupils from /this district, 'and contended that, geographically. Levin was a much more convenient centre for a high school proper, allowing of easy, access and re-, turn, by the present railway service, to the townships botli to the north and South. Pupils who travelled day to Palmerston did not reach school till 1U.45, which was a big loss in time, whilst the return journey .home was late. Referring to matriculation, Mr Rimmer held that the rural course, which was included in the curriculum of. the Levin school, was

quite'unnecessary, and was eliminated iroui high schools like Palmerston, which enabled the pupil to jge t I through the course much quicker. Pupils from this district were going where they could get that advantage. He was convinced that every endeaj vour should be made to have .the-rural | course eliminated,; and the school } placed on (the same level as the PalS merston school,, which would enable } local pupils to get higher education in their home town, under the same advantages as obtained in other places. y Mr Slom.an emphasised the need of a change lrom a rural *to the academic course, because the children | who have professions mapped out for ! them must matriculate. Tu enter an agricutturul college matriculation was also necessary. Messrs. Andrew and Jenson also supported the views put forward by the previous speakers. Mr Matheson pointed out ihafc it was only in a spirit of co-operation that the deputation, attended that night in an endeavour to improve the local educational facilities.

In reply to Mr Matheson, the chairman stated that scholars, could matriculate in the Levin School, but there was a waste of time with the wood; work .and rural subjects. It this time were devoted to the matriculation course, it would be a great advantage, and practically give them what they wanted. Pupils could matriculate in the school now, as he had stated. , Mr Matheson: How long’ does it take? f The chairman: Four years. Mr Sloman: Is the rural course a very complete one? The question was referred to the headmaster (Mr Mclntyre), who said it was not—the rural course did not make farmers of the ( hoys or the woodwork make carpenters. In regard to the time it would take to matriculate here, four years, Mr Sloman said in Stratford, for instance, pupils could get through in half that time, and even less, as they were not hampered with the rural course. / In reply to Mr Sloman, the chairman said no scholars had yet matriculated in the- Levin school. Mr Rimmer: Have any matriculated J in Palmerston North after travelling, up and down every day?. \ Mr Mclntyre said he did not Ihink .so. Mr Rimmer pointed out., that the pupils travelling up by train did not

reach school there till 10.45 each day --a big loss of time. He also stressed the growing necessity ol' higher education to meet the demands of the times. Ur. Govv said the Committee was ot the same mind as'the deputation. It was, he said, quite possible lor a poy to matriculate in the local school in lour years, hut it should he borne in mind that in addition to matricm luting the, pupil had to put in a portion of his time at woodwork and agriculture. If this time could he devoted to matriculation subjects, he would, of course,- get through much quicker.Mr Matheson stated that it was a quest ion of getting sullicient pupils tor a high school proper. There were 40- here already, and only 70 were required to form the high school proper and get the necessary teachers. Mr Sloman: If the curriculum were altered there would be no difficulty in getting 70 pupils., It was pointed out that the course** at college' in Wellington was the same a.s at. the Levin school, with the difference that the rural course was dropped. As regards the number ui. pupils who travelled from this district to Palmerston, there were only eight, lour of whom attended the technical school, and two were tak-, ill ga commercial course.

v Mr Matheson said that the Chamber of Commerce would be; only too glad to assist the School Committee in tfye endeavour to have the curriculum atthe local school altered. .He suggested a petition be circulated to get the assistance of the parents of the district, and to present it to the educatiumiiLauthorities in support of the Committee and Chamber of* Com'-' rnerce. , . - ' Mr Hobson considered it would be a good idea for the Committee to .inform the Department that a conference had been held with the Chamber “That this Committee is strongly of opinion that tha time lias arrived for the rural course subjects of education in the High School be dropped in favour of a purely matriculation cotirse. The ' Committee is supported in this • matter by the Levin Chamber of Commerce, and, by the expressed views of parents of childreh now attending the school; therefore the Committee urge the Board to lake immediate steps to alter the course.” A copy of this resolution to be sent to Mr W. H. Field, M.P., and Mr C. I. Harkness, the local member of the Board. In seconding the mption, Mr Grove said it was not so much what the deputation had said, but. the fact that they came as parents, and had a personal interest in the ed wrong that local children had to gd to Palmerston and Wellington to get education which should be supplied in their own town. If they kept on asking, as parents; for the present course to be altered, they woiild get the thanks, not only of-the parents." but of the local teachers as well. The motion was carried unanimously. * . Dr. Gow suggested that the district schools as far so|lh as Paekakariki and north to Shannon, taking in Waikanae, Te Horo, Otaki, Manakau, Mul.iunoa and Koputaroa, he communicated with, asking for their support in the matter. The committed! could be circularised, giving the/gist of what was being done, and embodying the resolution that had. been carried. He -moved accordingly, .. , The motion was seconded by Mr Short and carried. ■