SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Shannon News, 23 September 1921, Page 1

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

,i CHANGE IN INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE. WANTED IN LEVIN SCHOOL. That the parents of this coast are in earnest in their endeavour to secure the reform of the instructional course at the Levin District High School by the elimination of the rural course and the substitution of a purely matriculation course, was very evident at the meeting called on Monday evening to hear an address on the matter by Mr F. H. Bakewell, senior inspector of the Wellington Education district. The Century Hall was completely filled with an audience that was thoroughly representative of the town and the immediate localities. Mr F. G. Roe, chairman of the Levin School Committee, presided, and in opening the meeting said all were aware of the dissatisfaction that existed in connection with the agricultural course, and it was the general wish that there should be a change to the matriculation course. The question had been brought before the Education Board by Mr W. H. Field, M.P., and Mr C. I. Harkness, the local representative on the Board. The result was that Mr Bakewell, the senior inspector, had been asked to come and explain the position. The chairman added that he had received several apologies from residents who were unable to attend the meeting.

iur Jbaaeweil siaieu uiai ue came lu juevm purely as a consulting oinciai of me nouru. ue would have - muon preierreu 11 the local speaaers nau opoiten List and imowu ail then oi'icKS at mm at once, ue would men nave neen aoie to have answereu

mein an logetner. ue admitted mai mere had need aissausiacuon m me past with me local maincuiauuu course, hut ue pointed out that me matriculation course diiiered, aiiu was naruly the same at any two schools. He believed it was the opinion that the rural course was not necessary—(Hear, hear)—but, as a matter oi lact the rural course contained matriculation subjects. He did not think the small district high schools would ever provide a lull matriculation course, and pointed out that variations in the courses loilowed at different districts high schools, where the courses were dominated by the size of the schools. At. Masterton, for instance, agriculture could he taken for two years, and the pupils could then take the matriculation course proper. The same applied to the Stratford school, where they had the teachers to enable this to be done. The position was governed by regulations, which were most drastic. Quoting from • these, Mr Bakewell pointed out that it was compulsory for girls to take home science and boys agriculture in the district high schools. There were two exceptions* —Petone, which had over the requisite 70 pupils, and Hutt, where thsy had no laboratories or grounds. He insisted that matriculation took four years. In exceptional cases it had been done in two years and occasionally in three years. Before long, however, the method of admission to the university would not be by examination. Pupils would be accepted from their secondary schools, but a proviso would be that they had attended a four years’ course of steady instruction. At- present boys and girls were going to the university at too young an age. As a member of the College Council and the Senate, he knew that the Professors were continually complaining that the students were coming to them too young, too unprepared and too undeveloped to take up university work. As a matter of fact no one ever matriculated at 14 in New Zealand, because the minimum age at which they could go to a university college was 16. Continuing, Mr Bakewell said that in October, 1915, parents in Levin were given a choice of the rural course or a modified course which would break ground for matriculation by giving instruction in Latin and French for two years, and then go on to matriculation. The parents were strongly in favour of the rural course then. To give parents desiring the matriculation course a further opportunity, a modified cfiurse was mapped out. Thirteen children were guaranteed to attend for four years. Three of the thirteen attended one year and then left; seven left at the end of the years; and two lasted three years. Mr Bakewell commented an the failure of Levin children to put in the four years at the high school, and men-

tioned that of 100 scholars, 54 left at

the end of the first year, 21 at the end of the second year, 16 at the third year, and only 8 passed on into the fourth year. Mr Bakewell then said he was prepared to recommend a modification of the present course so that by re-ar-ranging the time-table more time could be given to matriculation subjects. With two teachers at the school, he would expect average scholars to he presented, under this modified course, for matriculation at the end of four years, with every prospect of success, and perhaps one or two wouid be able to matriculate after three years. He had less scruple in modifying the course because he believed the whole of these regulations would shortly go into the melting-pot, and a new sys tem would come in which would be known as post-primary course. Mi Bakewell explained this at length. It would probably come into operation in a year’s time. The primary school „ourse would end at 12 years. From 12 to T 5 the scholar would engage in studies connected with the trade or profession he intended to take up, and after that those who wished to go on to the secondary schools proper would do so. The value of the postprimary course taken would be decided by the parent in consultation with the teacher and educational authorities. In view of these important changes coming shortly, and the strong feeling in Levin, he was prepared to recommend the modification in the rural course, while still keeping within the regulations. The two teachers could cover the matriculation course in four years, and some scholars might possibly matriculate in less than that time. Mr C. I. Harkness asked whether il was a fact that some Education Boards, Nelson for instance, had sidestepped the rural course.—Mr Bakewell: If they are breaking the regulations, they have no right to. They had no authority to cut out the rural course.

Mr Hobson asked if any reason could be given for the scholars failing to complete their course after agreeing to do so —Mr Bakewell attributed it to the train service, which enabled soihe children to get away early, and this unsettled the others. Mr Thomson said the train service did not apply to any particular service. . The early train had been running before the attendance began to dwindle. Mr Broadbeli said there must be some other reason. It seemed as though there was something wanting somewhere. Mr baKewell said the children diu not stay vthree years. One reason might be that the boys got something else to do. He had boys of his own, and they were very reluctant to go to school when their mates were getting £1 a week and could smoke cigarettes. (Laughter.) He had known boys in this district who had lelt school and got nearly as much as the teacher who was teaching them. He did believe, however, that if an honest boy or girl had the fact placeu clearly before thbm that they wouiu have to. apply themselves for four years, they would make an effort to carry it through. The Mayor, Mr Matheson, said the whole trouble was that the children at Levin were not getting anywhere. He had tried, with an open mind, to get at the cause, and as far as he courd see the children, as well as thenparents, had been disheartened at the waste of time on the agricultural course and the home science. (Applause.) Mr Harkness agreed with the Mayor. He said the Stratford school had been started just as the Levin school had been. It was the fact that it got results that made it expand 'and attract scholars from other towns. He reiterated his statement that numbers of children had matriculated there in two years. They may not have gone to the university, but stayed on in the high school, and so ripened until they were old, enough to go further up. The country districts recognised the importance of agricultural science but believed the subject of such magnitude that it could not be handled by public school teachers. It should be in the hands of experts. He thought Mr Bakewell must have had a finger in framing these regulations, and he. congratulated him on the way he had bolstered them up. He charged the Department with insincerity in professing to care so much for agriculture in the secondary schools while they did nothing to set up an agri-

cultural school for expert instruction. Mr Bakewell: Anyone would think 1 was the “ions et origo” of these re--gulations. As a matter of lact 1 hau nothing whatever to do with them, and you have no idea how much trouble I have to explain them to people. It was not fair to suppose that the Department intended to turn out farmers. The Department recognised that our vital industries were farming industries, and hoped by this course in the elementary sciences connected with agriculture to turn children in that direction. There was just as much scientific knowledgenecessary in agriculture as there was in medicine—perhaps more. Mr Bakewell said he wished to emphasise that home science had to be taken by girls in all high schools and colleges just as it was in Levin. Mb Holms asked whether the great desire of the Government to have the agricultural course taught to boys would not be defeated by simply establishing a . high school proper, so called—Mr Bakewell pointed out tht difficulties of establishing a high school. In Masterton they had 120 scholars, and had been trying to get £ high school for many years. It would cost £20,000 for a site and endowments to pay the staff required. In answer to Mr Bould, Mr Bakewell said in some other schools in the district I the agricultural subjects were taken by visiting instructors, but Levin was away by itself on this side of the district, and could not be worked in. Arrangements were therefore made for the appointment of a teacher, who was competent to take the rural course. This was the case at Greytown also, but in the others the course was largely taken by the visiting (Staff.

The Mayor said that as parents they wanted this rural course wiped out, and despite what Mr Bakewell said, they were optimistic enough to think, that if they got up an agitation strong enough they would gain their ends. Mr Matheson then moved: That the parents of Levin, also representatives from Otaki, Manakau, ohau, Ihakara and Koputaroa districts, attending this meeting (convened on the suggestion of the Wellington Education Board) by the Levin District High School Committee for the purpose of allowing Mr Bakewell to address them on the subject- of the rural and domestic science course, respectfully requests the Minister of Education to grant an exemption of this course for the Levin High School curriculum and to allow in place of same a purely matriculation course; that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Board, the Hon. Minister of Education through the member for the district, Mr W. H. Field, also to Mr C. I Harkness, the district’s representative on the Wellington Education Board.” The motion was seconded by Mr 3. W. Dimmer, who sard that if Mr Bakewell could give them anything he slioould tell them. There was no question at all tha.t they did not want the rural course. Even the headmaster at Levin sent his son to Wellington to get the education that should be available here, and members and ex-mem hers of the committee sent their hoys to other centres. That proved that the education they got here wa,s only a farce. As a parent interested it appeared to him that it was a crying shame that children should be compelled to leave their homes and go miles away to get education that was due to them to fit them for the higher walks of life. A Government that insisted on such a state of things was only worthy of the burning contempt of the people (Applause).

Mr Harkness said that if the idea was that the rural course would help to stop the exodus to the cities, the Government, if it was conscientious, should give this course in the cities and let city people have an opportunity of learning the benefits of country life.

Mr Matheson remarked that when Mr Bakewell was interviewed three years ago he said the regulations could not be altered. Now he came along and proposed a modification that would give them a matriculation course. Had they lost three years’ time in the matter.

Mr Bakewell, speaking warmly: “I think it extremely unkind to bring up what happened three years ago, to say I said so-and-so then, and am saying something different now, and to wonder what I will say when I come here next year.” He should have insisted on hearing the meeting’s views before he spoke. He had made a bona fide offer and was surprised that it was received in a hostile spirit. The conditions now were entirely different to those-three years ago. He had no power then or now to alter the regulations and he did not propose now to depart from them, but to modify the course-a little to give more time for matriculation work. He did so knowing the regulations were going into the melting-pot shortly. Three years

ago he had advised the Levin people to get in touch with other schools situated as they were with a view to having the regulations altered. Dr Gow said Hutt and Petone had a large proportion of matriculations anu Levin had none. 11 tins school was luililling its lunctions way had it not produced a single matriculation. Passing examinations was not the chief end of education hut it was the only criterion they had got oi the education the children were getting. They were endehted to Mr Bakeweli for his address, but he was the servant oi the Department and they would like to know whether he was sincere when he tried to justify the rural course. They would also like to know whether they were getting as fair a deal in the country as in the towns. If not, why not? Mr Hobson read letters from the Ohau, Otaki, Paraparaumu, Koputaroa and Shannon School Committees supporting the Levin Committee’s view, which showed that Levin did not stand alone. Their patience was exhausted by these regulations, which were not suited to the requirements of the district, and were driving people from ihe country into the towns. He could mention families that had left Levin for this reason. Mr Thomson gave some interesting particulars of his experience, comparing the results obtained in Levin and Palmerston. It. was costing at least £6O a ysar to send a boy to Palmerston for education that should be available in Levin. The smartest teacher in New Zealand would not matriculate children under the rural course. Replying to Mr Harris, Mr Bakewell said he did not think fhe accrediting system, instead of examinations, would apply to a school like Levin. Mr Sloman asked whether Mr Bake*well was prepared to make the course a laboratory one instead of the children wandering round the grounds so much.—Mr Bakeweli said the regulations provided that half the time must be spent in laboratory work and half in practical work. He trusted the meeting would woognise that he was only an officer oi the Department. He had met hostile meetings in Levin before, but had always trie# to do the best possible for the town. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Holms said it seemed that Mr Bakeweli was going as far as he possibly could. No owe present would lay the trouble at Mr BakewelPs door. (Hear, hear.) They greatly appreciated his address and especially his remarks on contemplated! educational reforms.

On Mr Matheson’s motion, seconded by Mr Harkness, the thanks of the meeting were extended to Mr Bakewell, both mover and seconder expressing their cordial goodwill towards him, a. sentiment that was acknowledged by the Senior Inspector.