THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 228, 1 February 1911, Page 7

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

A WORD IN DEFENCE. "Justice" writes to the editor: —The correspondence which Ims recently appeared in your columns on the subject of the New Plymouth High School has so far been purely condemnatory, and 1 am writing in answer to the charges made by "Critic" and others, who, following out the policy of fouling their own nest, are doing their best to undermine the influence and destroy the prestige of Hie institution, which, in spite of detractors, is doing good and useful work. The only correspondent who has made any serious charge is tne one who writes over the name of "Critic." As his attack was to a certain extent justified, I shall reserve replying to him until later, and deal first of all with the other correspondents whose charges were of a vague and trivial nature. Let me deal with them in order: "Parent" No. 1 writes decrying the extreme importance which is placed upon examination results. He thinks that more attention should be given to tone, esprit de corps, and the "indescribable" (I suppose he means'indefinable) "something." The question as to whether scholastic success or tone is the main element in education is a controversial one, and has no direct bearing on the question at issue, but your correspondent stultifies himself by saying that "Critic's" general conclusions cannot be contested. If he had taken the trouble to read "Critic's" letter carefully, he would see that, beyond finding fault with, the constitution of the Board of Governors, the whole letter was a jeremiad on the school's failure in Junior University Scholarship examinations. lam far from underrating the tremendous influence exercised on a boy's character by a school with a a good tone, but I should like to point out that the "indescribable" something cannot be ideally attained except in a boarding school, under which category come all the schools whose tone our correspondent would like the New Plymouth High School to copy. It would be idle to attempt to prove such an obvious thing as the necessity of a boarding establishment, and if "Parent" still wishes to hold the view that a boarding school/ is unessential to a good tone, life is too short for me to attempt to teach him. "G.H.D.'s" letter can hardly be said to condemn, but perhaps it is a case of "save me from my friends," for his damning statement, with faint praise, that the local High School is not worse than several other schools in the North Island, is a defence tnat the most loyal High School supporter could hardly advance.

"Juvenis" has evidently allowed his youth to betray him into rushing into print without lirst acquainting himself with facts. He blames the governing body for establishing a boarding department "before they had the slightest notion that pupils would be found to occupy the quarters." Tn other words, lie advocates a policy of timidity, and lack of enterprise, and .would; have the Board act on the principle of not going near the water until one has learned to swim. His remark as to unpopularity of the boarding school is not borne out by facts. He states that only one or two boys have been attracted, when I find on enquiry that there are already eight boys in residence there. Surely this ia not bad, considering the age of this branch of the institution. .Palmerston High School established a boarding department some four years ago, and last, year the number of boarders was fourteen —a state of things considered quite satisfactory by that school's governing body. I may also mention that for many years there has been a general clamor for a boarding establishment, in response to which the Ciovernors decided to do what they could in this direction, with the result that their action is immediately taken exception to by our very youthful friend. "Parent Xo. 2" has provided hardly anything for comment. lie is so lost;ill adoration of "Critic's" masterly exposition that he produces 110 arguments whatever. He indulges in vague and empty denunciation, and, after all, what is the "deplorable state of affairs" that he so much laments? The whole of "Critic's" accusation is that in the past the school has gained no .Junior University Scholarship. "Parent Xo. 2" should follow the advice T have given to "Parent Xo. 1," and read a letter thoroughly before he criticises it, even favorably. We have certain other schools held up to our notice as examples to be copied by our local institution. I believe that 1 am right in saying that one nt; least oi these is now devoting one half of its teaching powers to an agricultural course to suit the requirements of the district, and yet when the much-maligned Xew Plymouth High School inaugurates a similar course, the scolding the Governors receive for their exceedingly prompt and, I may well say, welcome action amounts to little less than a severe tongue-thrashing. I say ''prompt" advisedly, seeing that, as T understand, the motion was adopted within three months of its recommendation by the Department's inspector.

And now what about "Critic"? He at) all events has not indulged in useless j bluster, and, in liis opinion, the head and front of the school's offence lies in the fact that it has gained no .'lunior University Scholarship. ''Critic" is evidently fully 'acquainted with the run of the academic ropes, anil is fully aware that these distinctions are generally gained by students, at least two years after they have matriculated. I believe that until a few years ago the stall' of the Kew Plymouth High 'School was not large enough to give full time to University requirements, and that the matriculation exam, was avowedly the highest standard to which tuition was carried. ' Since the increase in the .stall' the stand-

anl must have been raised, seeing that two Taranaki Scholarships have been •rained, which, though not, quite such an honorable distinction as a Junior University .Scholarship, is a very high .scholastic'achievement, being on the same ■standard of work.

As to the Governors, they are already' a fairly representative body of men, and even supposing that, they should so far pander to the wishes of "Parent No. 3 : ' and resisrn from a position which receives all the kicks and none of the halfpence, I have grave doubts as to whether a body of men more competent to undertake the duties of High School fiovernors

could be found in this district. As far as I can see at present, they are very far from suffering from the mental senile decay, lately suggested in your columns; they being either men wlio have the responsibility of institutions as important as the New Plymouth High School on their shoulders, or are at least men who have earned, and still retain, the confidence of the public. In conclusion, 1 should like to mention that there are many who like myself are perfectly satisfied that the local High School is going good, honest work, as can be seen in the many examples of its late pupils, who are doing really well in many parts of the Empire, ft seems to mc an unfortunate tiling for our town that peopla like ••Critic." should do their best, to cry down a school which is undoubtedly up-to-date now, whatever may have been the case in the past, just as it is launching forth in the direction so much clamored for in bygone days. I hope that some of those people who feel as I do 011 this subject will sacrifice a little of I their time to the. defence, through the ! medium of the Press, of a worthy inI stitution.