THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 317, 2 June 1911, Page 5

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS IMPEACHED. "Critic" writes to the Editor:— The recent voluminous correspondence in the columns of the Press and also the reports of the proceedings of the High School Board of Governors have made at least two facts abundantly clear —first, that a large section of the community is thoroughly dissatisfied with the present management of the High School; and, second, that the remaining members of the Board are just as satisfied with that management as the public is dissatisfied with it. It follows as a corollary from the second of these facts that the members of the Board are quite satisfied with themselves as the guardians of secondary education in this district. The first of these facts has been proved to demonstration, 'and if further evidence of the existence,were required it would be sufficient to refer to the chairman's candid admission. "I know," lie is reported to have said, "that dissatisfaction does exist; but," he adds, "I am more than ever convinced that there is nothing in that dissatisfaction." By what process of reasoning he has become con vineed that there is nothing in the dissatisfaction he does not trouble to say. Perhaps he was misled by a too enthusiastic perusal of the report supplied by Mr. Hogben. In any case, it is quite obvious that if the cliairman's conclu- , sion is right, then the opinion held by the long line of unfortunate parents j who have complained about the poverty I of the schooling given to their children is wrong; the uncontrovcrtcd indictment of Messrs Wilson and Glasgow, who gave up their scats on the Board as a protest against a continuance of the existing regime, is wrong; the wretchedly poor results shown by the school over a period of thirty years are purely imaginary; the want of confidence in and reputation of the school are airy abstractions—there is nothing in any of them. But is Mr. MacDiarmid right in hie conclusion? Is there no real ground for dissatisfaction? In your issue of January 24 last, immediately after the annual examination results were made - known, a letter written by myself was published in your columns drawing attention to the low position held by the school compared with the other secondary schools of the Dominion, and generally criticising the work of the school. The keynote of that letter was dissatisfactioH with the management of the school for the reasons stated therein. There can be no doubt that at that time the Board did not think that there was anything in the dissatisfaction. On the contrary, its members felt very guilty. They held a meeting the very next day to consider the impeachment of their management, and instead of saying then that there was nothing in it or deciding to deal with the dissatisfaction or the cause of it in a proper manner, they determined to shift the responsibility on to other shoulder*. They decided to adopt a method of investigation into the affairs of the school which had been tried without success on at least two previous occasions; they asked the inspectors of the Education Department to report upon matters which were then within the knowledge of the Board .and which could not be discovered by a three days' inspection, no matter how searching. They required the inspectors to tell them what they had a right and duty to know from their own headmaster. The whole move was a weakkneed attempt to evade responsibility, an attempt which, by the way, cannot in the long run succeed. However, the inspection was in due course made, and the report considered by the Board. The chairman, with commendable forethought, had stipulated that the report I must be such as "he who ran might read." Whether the members actually read the report while they were running cannot be said with certainty, but what can be said is that some of them read it without penetrating far below the surface. The inspection had not in their opinion found them out. Mr. Fraser was at no pains to hide his joy at this aspect of the question. He was full of congratulations for all concerned, including himself. "How beautiful are thy tents," says he. On the other hand, the whole, some criticism of Messrs Wilson and Glasgow made him '"tired(." M.r ,S. Percy-Smith rejoiced because the report as interpreted by himself coincided with his own views on the subject. Mr. Dockrill's affection for the school was once again stirred np; the chairman sawthere "was nothing in the dissatisfaction"; and Dr. Fookes, the University man of the company, sat mute. The truth is that the report in question discloses a far from satisfactory state of things. The organisation of the school work, the allocation of duties to the various teachers and the timetable are all condemned. The staff, it says, it not large enough to cope with the work. Tine headmaster's time is too much taken up with teaching and too little with supervision. A great deal of the work of the school is described as only fair; and, lastly, and moat important of all, the pupils do not stay long at the school. It is surely an amazing thing that with a report like that supplied by Mr. Hogben before them the persons to whom the sacred trust of secondary education has been given should regard themselves as completely vindicated. But what can be said about the matters with which the report does not deal? The members of the Board knew as well as the inspectors that pupils do not stay long at the school. . The question which the Board and not the inspectors must answer is, Why do they not remain long? One reason, it is suggested, was stated in my former letter, namely, that a sufficiently hisrh standard of education is not provided by the school.

Again, what explanation has the Board to offer for the poor reputation of the school, for the lack of public confidence in it, for the fact that it fails to attract pupils, for the fact that pupils leave early, for the reported failures of pupils in higher examinations, and the disheartening results arising therefrom, and for the dissatisfaction with the management which admittedly exists? With these matters the report docs not and was not intended to deal. How, then, can the Board say that, the report has taken the responsibility from the shoulders of its members? 'The chairman, it is true, suggests that these weaknesses are due to long-stamding prejudice. Mr. Fraser puts them down to the conduct of what, he is pleased to call the "opponents of the school." These explanations have already been dealt with fully in your columns. Suffice it to say 'that the school may well pray to be delivered from its so-called friends. Is anyone nn opponent of a school who wishes with a whole heart to see it a robust thriving institution? The talk about prejudice and opposition is largely humbug. The members of the Board know very well that the existing dissatisfaction is real. Until the recent developments, Mr. Fraser. for instance, made, no secret of his opinion that the school was beino badly conducted. Was it that he was not very sincere then, or does he now shrink from the martyr's crown? But, in spite of all that has been or can be urged against the existing control, the Board persists in retainin" office. In the opinion of Mr. PercySmith, the Board is responsible to the Governor alone, and there is no doubt

that owing to the obsolete method of I election a member once elected is to all intents and purposes elected for life. As a matter of fact, the whole machinery of management of the school is hopelessly out of date. Quite apart from the present trouble, it is highly desirable that a new system of election of members should be devised, and also that the powers of the Board should be extended in various ways. As soon as possible the question of separating the sexes will have to be considered, and if this end is attained it will be necessary to erect another school building. In these circumstances, it would be well to consider the question of promoting a private Hill for the purpose of facilitating reform. Reverting to the present deadlock, the public of the district have now to consider whether the present state of things shall continue, or whether t he unfavorable reputation regarding secondary education is to be removed. The Board, as at present constituted, is committed to the policy of drift, and choice has to be made between the Board and the interests of the children. Every boy and girl in this country is entitled to a good primary and secondary education. The school at which that education is to be imparted is for the most part determined by conditions beyond the control of the pupil, and so it sometimes happens that it is not until he goes forth into the world and comes to apply his knowledge •that he finds that he has been turned out but ill equipped. Our plain duty in the matter is to see that the children get nothing short of the best, and it is because the best is not supplied at the High School that a change is demanded. Surely the children shall not ask for bread and receive a stone if we can help if. •