Master Pleads For Junior High Schools

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 392, 28 June 1928, Page 18

Master Pleads For Junior High Schools

KOWHAI INSTITUTION LINK IN EDUCATION “I hope householders will not let themselves be deprived of a school which is helping the New Zealand education system to come into line with those of older countries,” said Mr. R. E. Rudman, Kowhai Junior High School principal, at a meeting of householders last evening. “Although the school is in its sixth year, its fate appears to be doubtful. The present Minister of Education and his director are not in favour of separate institutions.’ Mr. Rudman said there was no other school in the Dominion where overage, backward children received so much attention, and he believed money would be saved and education improved wer© the type adopted in the large centres. The large attendances enabled the school to have separate specialists in woodwork, metalwork, cookery, needlework, drawing and science, and th© chief aim of a junior high school was to present high school and technical subjects, assisting a child to choose whether to go to a grammar school, a technical school or to a trade. “English and American teachers have told me that we are following the best principles of the systems in their countries,” said Mr. Rudman. The speaker reviewed the activities of the school since its inauguration in October, 1922. The following resolution, moved by Mr. S. E. Chappell, was carried unanimously:—“This meeting of parents is convinced that the separate junior high school as exemplified at Kowhai is of such an advantage to the pupils attending that the schools continuation in its present form is of vital importance to the combined district so well served by its formation.” Aresolution protesting to the Educaion Board against frequent changes in the teaching staff was carried. The committee for the ensuing two years comprises the following:—Representatives of Mount Eden, Mount Albert and Edendale schools, Messrs. H. P. Hartnoll and E. H. Page, and Mrs. A. Russell respectively; parents’ representatives, Mrs. J. Brown, Mrs. E. A. Smyth© and Messrs. A. A. Buckley and Jas. Macdonald; Education Board’s representatives, Messrs. L. E. Rhodes and F. May.