The Daily News THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1904. NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 91, 21 April 1904, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1904. NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

The. matter of providing hoarding accommodation at the New Plymouth High School came up the other evening at a social function, and His Worship the Mayor expressed himself very strongly on the subject. This phase of the education question-has not received its due share of attention ; in fact, it has been almost neglected. In years past—ft is ancient history now, ami beyond the recollection of all but old residents—some movement was made in the direction indicated, and we are told that a committee collected a good deal of information on the matter of providing accommodation for boarders. Then there was a sudden stop, (he Board of Governors hurting that it had no funds available 'or the work and evidently no chance of raising any. The matter was allowed to drop, and the board seemed to have forgotten all about, it, until a few months ago Mr Allsworth, who is a comparatively new member of the board, and whose name must always he connected with any scheme for the advancement oj education in Tarunaki, moved in the direction of appointing a committee to consider ways and means. . So far this committee has been unable to ,nieet, and no proposals are ready to be submitted to the board. We arc convinced thai Mr Allsworth is on the right track, and regret that some such action as this was not taken years a,g/> and consistently followed up by the board. It is admitted, of course, that the New Plymouth High School is not sullicicntly endowed, but though this was doubtless a %c,y good reason for not proceeding with -the heavy expenditure that would be entailed in the erection of a building suitable to the needs of the district, it oilers no valid excuse for the inaction of the governing body, which should have left no stone unturned to obtain the necessary, funds. As the •Mayor remarked on Tuesday evening "Uhat have we done? Nothing." That is indeed a sorrv storv, and one much to be regretted. That the cause of education has suffered from the masterly inactivity of manv of its public men in former years" is only too readily acknowledged, and unless some energy is infused into the people it seems possible that our children will continue to be deprived of the great, benefits which are conferred by the presence of up-to-date institutions for imparling secondary and technical instruction. The fact that many of our leading residents for many years have been sending their children lo secondary schools in other centres may be cited as a proof that the need for such an institution as a lioardingKschool exists niul is keenly felt. No fault is found—there can be none—with the (('ualifications and undoubted ability of the principal and his staff ; in fact, we may say that the results of the recent scholastic examinations lure a gratifying proof that the inlslrur.lloll given al the school is of a very high standard, and that the pupils' talents are fully developed. Perhaps no other New Zealand school of a similar si,.c can show such a record as was achieved bvtho NewPlymouth High School ' for last year's work. But muny of our people are deprived of these great opportunities of studying at tins school. There are in this district settlers who desire to give their hoys and girls a better education than is obtainable at the primary schools in the couiTtry -districts, but hesitate to send them io our local high school because the children would have lo he "boarded out," and no proper supervision would be available to stand them in (Instead of home discipline. This has been a trouble for many years, and is increasing every day. As a' result. what do we liml ? Either that these pupils, perhaps very promising boys or girls, have to be content Willi the learning .secured under the public school syllabus, or, if the parent is in sullicienlly ulllueut circumstances, either Wnnganui, Nelson or Auckland institutions secure weljcome. additions to its increasing roll of Taranaki scholars. There are at the present time, we are informed on excellent authority, no less thnn twenty-three children from New Plymouth attending outside secondary schools, and there are doubtless many more from oilier Taranaki I towns. Most of these could be secured for Hi, ,\cw Plymouth High School by making provision for the reception of boarding pupils, ami we hope that in the near future some steps will be faken to proceed with the work of erecting Ihe building's, necessity in the interests of the rising general ion. In conclusion, v, c must compliment Mr Allsworth on his persistency in forcing his motion through, a pi ocess occupying four months. In any matter that tends to hcnelil education and confer lasting blessings on our people the Chairman of the Education Board is found in the forefront, and Tnrtilnnki is indeed fortunate in possessing such an enthusiast, who has devoted a vast fund of time and cnergelIc labnm- to ihc cause of education. If no other reward is forthcoming, ho will always be able to look proudly on thr> greatly improved education system now in vogue in Taranaki, mainly due, it. Is admitted, to his energy and whole-heart-ed enthusiasm.