THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1912. AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 10 December 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1912. AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL.

The Mastertcm Trust Lands Trustees are being asked to adopt'a definite policy in connection with the proposed High School. The Trustees, it need hardly be said, are not in a position Wdefine a policy at the'present juncture. As business men, they must

first discover what prospects there a .re of obtaining an Agricultural High School. .Everybody is agreed that the time is near at hand when a superior educational institution, subsidised by the Trust, must be provided for Masterton. The point at issue at the present time is not, what shall the subsidy be? The question is, how shall we secure the -superior institution? J\o good purpose can be served by putting the cart before the horse. It is impossible to secure the disestablishment of the District High School for

the purpose of putting in its place •a High School, with an agricultural bias. The present District High School has an agricultural bias, and it prepares its students for matriculation, so that they may pass right on tiie University. High School on similar linos would be purely and simply a waste of money. The Education Board would not entertain a proposal rto disestablish in favour of a High School. The Government would certainly not find the money for such an institution when its -finances are «o severely strained Cor the maintenance of the services of the State. The Trust Lands Trustees could not afford to establish-'or maintain a separate educational institution. What, then, is the rational position to take up? Is it not desirable that the Trustees should endeavour to wipe out their overdraft in the meantime, and put their finances in such a position, that they could, offer a substantial induee*ment to the Government to establish an Agricultural High School when the necessary legislative power is provided. The Education Commission has recommended the establishment of Agricultural High Schools in rural districts, to act a* feeders to tlio Agricultural Colleges that have been, promisedi. Let! tire Trustees urge

upon the .Government the necessity for making provision for both Agricultural High Schools and Colleges. The one institution is jui adjunct to the. other. There is & pressing demand in this district for an institution which would provide instruction in scientific agriculture. The .District High School has an agricultural course, but this leads to nowhere. If an Agricultural High School were in existence, free place pupils from every part of the district would be drawn to it. The ordinary high school education could be provided for those desiring to proceed to the Univensaity, while special provision could be miulo for the girls, as is done in the Victorian Agricultural High Schools. If a High School were established in the meantime, with an agricultural bias, it would bo of very little utility, other than to create a class distinction, which is unpalatable in a democratic community. Those who followed figri- | cultural studies would have no goal, for there is no College to which they could be admitted. Furthermore, by securing a High School now, on the ' off-chance of its developing into an Agricultural High School, the future ' of the latter institution might be seriously prejudiced. The law might 'be so constructed that present arrangements made in regard to s-it-e, buildings, etc., would become obsolete, /laking everything into consideration, i therefore, one is forced to the conclu\sion that the Trust Lands Trustees j would be pursuing a wise course in making no definite undertakings in the | meantime. It is an open set-ret that 1 the Education Act is to be subjected ' to important amendments in the rear 1 future. It is tolerably certain that in the next session of Parliament pro- ; vision will be made for Agricultural ' Colleges and High Schools. In view lof these fact, is it not wise to be j patient, and await development,?? There are some who wish to rush at the tiling like a bull at a gate. These , are not imbued with a genuine regard ' for the permanent development of the educational institutions of the <Us'trict. It is fortunate that there, are ' business men on the Trust, who will [not allow themselves to he dragged ' at the heels of theorists.