The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1914. THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 166, 19 December 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1914. THE HIGH SCHOOL.

It used to be said tliat, owing to tlie war, Taranaki was fifty years behind the times. This was a severe handicap, but it has been -overcome very largely, if not altogether. All the same, while this province was in a state of unprogressivencss, the other portions of the Dominion were moving ahead rapidly, and in no direction was this more apparent than in educational affairs, aiul particularly in regard to secondary and University teaching. "We have only to look at the South Island, and part.icu. larly in Otago, to see what splendid work was done. The endowments in Canterbury and Otago were generous, chielly by reason of the value of the land from which they were derived, but there were not wanting public-spirited educational enthusiasts who donated substantial sums in furtherance of the work of higher education It has been Taranaki's misfortune so far to lack any evidence of that commj-ndable private generosity, and the loss thereof has had its effect on the progress of advanced education. In spite of this and other drawbacks, secondary education in Taranaki has made strides, though the progress has not been commensurate, with the advance in other matters. The turn of the tide, however, has set in, and anyone who was present at the New Plymouth High Kehool ITall 011 Thursday evening could not fail to have been deeply impressed with the evidence of the dawning of a new era for higher education in the district. 'As one of the speakers truly remarked, the school had experienced its bad times, but they were gone—gone for ever. That statement exactly represents the truth. There was a time when the school could lay claim to respectability, but not to scholarship. It was a semi-moribund institution, that just managed to lie entitled to the Government subsidy, and 110 more. To-day it is . a virile and healthy educational centre, i presided over by a gentleman of high at- , tainnients, exceptional force of character j and will-power, together with an accu- ] rate knowledge of what a typical j secondary school should be. That he is j conscious of the .great taak involved in 8

providing thu necessary accommodation and ('(jiiipmoiits for a successful college ia abundantly evident, both from the contents of his report and the convincing remarks made by him 011 the occasion referred to, but there are iinancial and other difficulties which stand in the way. With his contention that preparatory classes are essential to the success of the school most educationalists will sympathise, for common-sense alone would show that the best results could only be obtained by the whole school-life of the pupils being spent under an all-embracing system, step by step from the lowest rung of the educational ladder to where it rests against the portals of the University. Such a system is self-commend-ing, the only stipulation being that the preparatory classes must, under existing legislation, be absolutely self-supporting. The State recognises primary, secondary and University education, with the alternative of technical study for that of the University. The difficulty under that scheme is the duplication of the primary classes, but Mr. Jfoyes emphasised a point that is too frequently overlooked, namely, that the children would attend preparatory classes at the 'High School are, not those who would attend the j primary schools established by the State, T'ntil this system is altered the prepanl/ lory classes must be self-supporting, but that fact should not be allowed to interfere with the institution and carrying on of the classes, which are such an important factor in the success of the school as a whole. The proposal to change the name of the High School to (hat of the Taranaki College, though by 110 means a new suggestion, is one that should commend itself to all concerned. It may be thought that such a step is merely the outcome of sentiment, but that is not the case. The education given at our High School is on all fours with j that imparted at Nelson, Wanganui, and other secondary schools, which are designated as colleges. There is much to be said in favor of making this distinction in favor of endowed secondary schools as distinct from the District High Schools. Moreover, there is the additional advantage that from a public point of view a college is regarded as something more -ian a school, inasmuch as it should contain the spirit which is found in the leading public schools of the Homeland, where athletics and intellectual attainments are each given their due importance, while a far higher tone and lan enlarged mental horizon are success.

fully cultivated. The germs of this spirit are already at work in the present regime at our High School, and in due course they will be productive o£ the greatest beneiit to the scholars, the district, and the Dominion. Any factor that helps towards tlic advancement of mental culture and the production of well-educated and broad-minded citizens, physically as well as mentally fit for any emergency tnat may arise, should be welcomed. There are in Taranaki quite a number of wealthy settlers, who might, if they so pleased, assist this endeavor financially, and it may be that someone will set the example, earning thereby the gratitude of the present and future generations, besides making excellent use of liia worldly goo 's. So much is required to place what, we will now call the Taranaki College on a fitting foundation that tlie task will be diilienlt, yet no one need be dismayed. Kven if the work has to lie done in sections, provided a comprehensive scheme for the whole is evolved and operated on as opportunity oilers, the end will be attained in time. Meanwhile the Board and the teaching stall', particularly the principal, ifr. Moycs, deserve the warmest congratulations on the success of their work, the furtherance and fostering of which should be the pride and pleasure of all the residents in the province.