SCHOOL LEAVING-AGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 850, 19 December 1929, Page 8

SCHOOL LEAVING-AGE

'MPLOYERS CAN ERR ON SIDE OF YOUTH HEADMASTER’S VIEW The tendency among commercial firms to ask for boys to enter em ployment at an age at which it Is not reasonable to say that either mind or character is sufficiently stabilised was mentioned by the Rev. H. K. Arehdall. in his headmaster's report at speech day at King’s College yesterday afternoon. He was confident of the general truth of the statement that the longer i he organised education of a boy continued at school, the further he would he able to progress in intellectual grasp and power of control in the business world. It was an undoubted fact that banks, insurance companies and commercial houses were tending to ask hoys to enter their employ at 100 early an age. Protection of the opportunity to develop the inherent capacity of some young men for leadership was needed to prevent forcing them to give up their organised cultural education too soon. Continuing. Mr. Arehdall said that, after three years, he felt he was belbnning to meet at close range the opportunities and the problems presented at the college. Discussing ihe examination system, he said ha had. during the year, opposed the system of accrediting for matriculation. He would like to see a leavingi ertificate examiuation for which a hoy could not. sit until he had done four years of secondary school work. “INTOLERABLE ACTION”

The Non-State Secondary School Association had asked to be alloxved to attend a conference called by the University of New Zealand on the introduction of accrediting for university entrance. The association was astounded when it was not allowed to he present. The action was intolerable to an organisation representing over 3,000 secondary school pupils. The accrediting system was approved with the promise that a large number of inspectors would be needed to work it properly. Some headmasters at State secondary schools were more than worried, he had heard, at Jhe prospect of inspectors continually in their schools.

The health at the school had been excellent. The English tutorial system had been introduced during the year, the report added. Each boy was under a tutor, and each master was responsible for the supervision of the work of 25 boys each fortnight. Mr. Arehdall was certain that the system of intensive control would be productive of great good. Mr. Arehdall expressed regret at the departure for England at the end of the year of the Rev. J. M. Beaufort, Prizes additional to those published in The Sun yesterday were presented as follow:

School Champions.—Junior and school A. M. Gunn; junior gymnastics, It. O. Calvert; school champion, R. G. Mellsop; junior swimming. R. G. Gillett; shooting:, ft. Gilmour. Athletics: Louis*on Cup. under 14, G. D. Lundon; secondary schools’ senior high jump, J. B. Hargrave; secondary schools’ junior 440 yds and junior school champion. J. I'). Lewis; secondary schools’ 120yds. hurdles, senior athletics champion, school boxing and running champion. T, H. C. Caughey. Inter-house Trophies.—Mrs. Lovett tennis cup, Town House; Thomas Harry Kinder shooting shield. Parnell House; Keegan football cup, St. John’s House and School House, tie; Bovd cup for nthBfttics relay, St. John’s House; Bddleston swimming epp for relay, St. John’s House; McArthur cricket cup, St. John's House.

Gymnastics.—Senior vertical ladder, J. B. Hargrave junior rings, J. N. Brownlee; junior tennis doubles, Handysidf* and Lewis- senior doubles. Coles and Gillet.t I. Snooting Penrose medal, I. M. Harkness; Trewby medal, J. K. P. Watson; silver spoon. Ft. G. Mellsop; Tyro’s medal. G. I>. Lundon. Cricket; Best average, B. G. Thomson; best aggregate, J. D. Lewis.