The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1886. TEMUKA SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1501, 4 May 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1886. TEMUKA SCHOOL.

At the last meeting of householders hTd in Temuka it was proposed to lower the status of the District High School to that of a common school. This is a very important question, and one that should not be decided hurriedly. There was a good deal of trouble taken to raise the school to its piesent position, and if lowered now it will be next to impossible to raise it again if ever The people desire to do so. We fully agree that it was constituted a District High School before its time ; it would undoubtedly have been belter if, it never had been raifed, but it has been done, and the best thing to do now is to make (he best use possible of it. It will not do to go buck—to do so would throw a slur on the town and district. We must always keep going ahead, even though no present advantages are to be gained by it. To go back now, after having removed schoolmasters and replaced them by others, and after the many other troubles we have had in changing the status of the school, would be ridiculous. There were two arguments urged in favor of reverting to the old style : one was that the school was suffering through the bead master being too much employed in teaching the secondary clauses, the other that the State had no right to pay for any education beyond the Sixth Standard, The first argument is certainly a serious one ; the second is no argument at all. We quite admit that the Slate has no right to pay for educating children beyond the sixth Standard, but our representatives in Parliament have agreed that the State shall pay for secondary education, and consequently it is useless for a meeting of Temuka householders to try to disrate the school on that ground. The money is voted for secondary education at any rate, and we may ns well get a share of it in Temuka as let it be apent elsewhere. As to the assertion that the school is suffering through the head master's time being occupied in teaching secondary subjects, that is a more serious matter. We are not, however, altogether satisfied that such is the case. The past year was an exceptionally trying one to the school. There was a good deal of sickness going about, and many of the children were kept away from school on account of it, while others through illness were unable to attend. Under these circumstances last year ought not be taken as a criterion. And furthermore, teachers were changed several times during the year, and undoubtedly such changes are not calculated to produce good results. There is still another point which ought to be considered, and that is that the number of pupils studying secondary subjects is increasing, and the hope is thus held out that before long the attendance will he so large that the school will be entitled to another teacher. If so, of coarse tho Elementary School cannot suffer through the existence of the High School, But the chief point in connection with the whole affair is that, we doubt whether the Education Act provides for disrating the school at all. If so it will not be easy to disrate it, as several members will doubtless resist such a proposal. Under such circumstances we think it would be as well to let it remain as it is and make as good a use as possible of it, and those who intend to send children to the High School ought to do so at once, so as to increase the attendance, and thus entitle the school to another teacher. Ry doing this all cause for complaint will be removed.