OPUNAKE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1920, Page 6

OPUNAKE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

REASONS FOR CLOSING. RESPONSIBILITY OX RESIDENTS. The question of the closing of the Opunake District High School was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board when a letter was read from the Committee of the school on th.? subject. It should be stated that the Department's regulations require at least 20 pupils before opening such a school, and that should the average attendance fall below 12 the Department may close such school. When the negotiations for the establishment of the D.H.S. were brought to fruition the Board and the Department were assured there were, the required number of scholars who would be attending the school. The school was nominally officially open for about one month, though actually it was open for only three weeks. When the senior inspector visited the school there were 14 scholars on the roll, 2 of whom had not been in attendance for a week and there was little likelihood of them coming back. The Board, therefore, was bound by the regulations to close the D.H.S.

The letter received from the Committee yesterday, conveyed the following resolution, which, it was stated, had been carried unanimously: That while deprecating the fact that the attendance of pupils at the D.H.S. established liere did not come up to the number guaranteed, this committee desires to point out the very short notice given by the Department of their intention to establish a D.ILS., consequently several parents had made arrangements for their children to attend elsewhere. Further, this committee wishes to know why anaverage attendance of 20 was insisted on for this school when the Act asks for an average of 12 only It was further stated that an average of considerablv over 12 would have been maintained aft ter the first term.

Mr White said that while lto regretted very much what had taken place, he felt the blame lay with the Opunakc people who had not risen to the occasion, which was very disappointing after twelve years agitation for the school. He pointed out that while Mr. Gray was in charge of the school he carried on a vary successful 7th standard class, and at that time a move was made in the direction of the establishment of a M.S. Having guaranteed a certain number of scholars the people of the district should have stood by their guarantee. By not doing so they had placed the Board in an unfortunate and unenviable position. After all the. representations made and the' special case made out by the Board on behalf of Opunakc, the Opunakc people had failed to come up to the point of sending their children to the school when opened. He regretted it for the district's sake, as lie felt it was so situated to require such advanced educational facilities as a D.11.5. would afford. It looked as though, outside the members of the Committee the people nad no desire for any continuation of education for their children.

Mr. Smith remarked that they would not even help themselves.

_ Mr. Trimble referred to the regulation requirement.? and said the people of the district had no ground for coir, plaint at what had been dono. Mr. White further remarked that it was of great importance that some kim of secondary education should be pro vided in the district, and he thouMn a further chance might be given the people to rise to the opportunity offered them, awl the Hoard might consider the re-opening the school next year. In referring to the teaching \vork at Upunakc the senior inspector (Mr Morton) pointed out that the teacher already had to teach three standards and eupei r - Visc the school, and any attempt to deal with twelve /t)i standard pupils would be to increase the work of an already strenuous position. There was no question, however, about the teacher teaching the scholars if they remained at schoo after the Gth standard fitase. in 1-H faid lle stron ff lv believed in children putting in two years in otandard 0, which, he said, in many case" «ould be of more value than a' whole secondary course. thSVw 0 !"" 0 - , l,ltimaW y <*rried was fSr Irrake? ake Co """ittee be informed, jf at the end of the year, tl.ev can secure over 20 p llpi , a , the Board V '' ,o P' Mse,i to make further repreWfT a VicW (0 thc "-ining of the District High School there " :