GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2376, 17 December 1908, Page 6

GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHOOL. The 'High School Hoard "of Governors .attended at the Technical School last evening to afford parents or persons interested any information in reference to the High School which is to be opened after the Christmas holidays. Air. C. A. deLautour, chairman of the Board of Governois, occupied the chair, and there were nresent, among others, .Messrs A. I' ■ Matthews, R. Johnston J . Coeman, J W -Bright; and W. Morgan, (rnember,s of the Board of Governors), G. E- Darton, F. W. Riach, J. bomervell, and the Rev. W. Grant. c Air deLautour said the Board on Governors had considered the need of a High School for the district, anc had come to the conclusion that the} con d no longer subsidise the District H.Vh School unless the. Education Board would give f children' iects that were ef use to the cnnuren of country residents to be taugh • - District iligh 'School had coup good Sofk in dtetime tat its did not .provide lor all c °_ *— e 32SSJtpJ& IStsFaSSSI ,rot“pant without the sir Si! 13?^ Cdveraors find to remember that Gisiw^might^not 1 suirSie & country DsS* Higli Sdhooinclude sub iects that were necessary to tne sons of farmers who were intended to he settled on the land, and -he Governors were therefore anxious to see a High School m the distiict which would he m lmo with the times, and the curriculum i upto'the standard of similar 11 land and America. The door ot tne High School would be open wider than in the .past, and the school would be made to meet the needs of the pupils. The class of teachers would be better, the system ot teaching better, and the facilities for admission would be extended It" as nuite a mistake to suppose that a Sigh School existed only for the few It existed in the interests of- the people as a whole, for a democratic people in a democratic State, Gisborne was an important centre, .. . the only important centre in tne Dominion .without a High Mm High School offered free places .0 all children Who were entitled to them, and the report of the Secondary Department of Education showed that 70 per cent, of the children m the High Schools were getting iree educatTon. That meant that ml chnd-en deserving of free secondary ecucAion receiving it. The High Schools belonged to the people, and -xhola-r-Sh ps and bursaries now gave opportunities to children to pass from the secondary schools to the umverwty. t was therefore obvious that a High School possessed advantages not shared hv a District High ocneo... In snob la school secondary education was made the one object, and the Rumls could remain 'at the school for a sufficient length of time to qualify for the University, and it was proposed t at the at which dree Peaces could be retained should be extended to 19 years. A High School would afford equipment for all children, regardless of the portion of their paaents; and with .a High behoof m Gisborne there would be no need io narents to send their children to schools and colleges m other towns. Gisborne had the means to establish a High School ;the Government offered the education, and bhe people should see that the educa ■ the best that could be obtained, y ll J l a she for a High School building was selected it would be necessary to use the rooms mffilie present building, 'and he saw no reason Why the rooms could not he used as in the mast. The cMdrren attending the High School .would, for the greater ioart be children from the ‘.ublic School, and the present building would serve until another building cou d be erected. A factor m the establishment of the High School was that the Board of Governois had nothing to do with what the Minister for Education nought do with the District liigli School. The Act was automatic in its action .and When a High School 'Whs established the District High School was usually closed. Such had been the course taken m other centres, for the teachers coul not be. appointed until the Minister had decided to disestablish the District High School. If such was not tile case two schools, with reduced rolls, would be in existence, and that position would be most undesirable. Mr. deLautour said he would be pleased to answer lany questions. In reply to a question why the Education Board did not deal with the matter, Mr. Darton said the reason w r as because the secondary teachers were 'appointed by the Board, and not for \i fixed term, and the Governors desired the Board to terminate their engagements. That the Board could nob do. The Governors could withdraw their subsidy, but so Song ,ae the teachers accepted the schedule salary the 'Board could not terminate the appointments, but .asked the Governors to confer with the School 'Committee on the question. , Mr. deLmitour said tho teachers were entitled to be transferred to other schools according to their status. The Governors offered, to contribute £250 a year in addition, to the subsidy of £IOO if the Board would appoint teachers for special subjects. Tho Governors had acted in the interests of the children of the district, and could not consider private interests. Mr. Bright said llie would-like to clear away the impression that the Governors had acted discourteously to the (School Committee. An invitation had been sent to the committee to meet the Governors, but only two members attended, and they had no authority to act. Mr. Darton staid Mr. Bright had not put the position 'fairly. The committee asked tor a conference, and the Governors declined, saying that it was inconvenient to meet the committee,

iMr. deLautour said iMr. Darton’s statement Was correct. ' /

Tho Rev. W. Grant said he did not thing there was (any need to discuss small differences, but to consider if the High School would , benefit the district, and if it would, to support the -action of the Governors. Mr. ! Darton : The school! has been established.

Mr. J. Somervell agreed with Mr. Grant, but would not like to see iany clashing in the management of the school. Mr. Riacih said he was satisfied that the school would benefit the district, and he was glad of the information that had been given.' Mr. deLautour .said he wished to dispel the impression thut the High School iwould not he started. The sahool would be- opened, and, as there was only a limited number of boarding allowances, if parents in tho country were late in applying their children might lose the allowance. Mr. Darton had protested against the disestablishment of.the District High School but the High 'School would be established, and ho (Mr. deLautour) did not want country people misled. He had interviewed the stationmaster to see if an oarlv morning train, oven if it was called a “milk train,” could bo run from Ormond to arrive in Gisborne at about half-past 8 o’clock, to convey children to school, and do away with the need of ’buses, as at present, for the boarding allowance would not go far. Mr. Darton said he -agreed that the Governors could establish a High School if they wished, and lie bad nothing to say against the Governors using the -powers vested in them. He was a member of the. Education, Board, and realised wihnt it meant to the School Committee ■to have the District High (School disestablished. This week an amount of £SOO had been received towards the school bath fund and the upkeep of the school. He had come to the meeting to hear of the advantages of « High School, ■but he thought it would be a >fatal mistake to conduct two separate schools in, the same ground, and lie saw nothing but trouble ahead. He was of the opinion that the High School should have a sepraate ground. Mr. deLautour said that that «--as the intention of the (Governors, but it would, be necessary to get an. Act of Parliament passed Before a suitable site could be obtained. It was ■absurd to say there would be friction among the teachers or between the managements. The Governors had contributed £IOOO towards the cost of the present building, and were still working for the welfare of the district, MrT "Somervell said that the £IOOO was the money off the people. ■Dr. Young said that what surprised lbim wm/5 the fact that" a High School had not been established before. He could see no objection to the scheme, for the greater included the lesser, and a. High School included a District High School. The meeting then closed.

CIRCULAR FROM THE GOVERNORS.

The following circular, to the parents land guardians of children, has been issued bv the High School Board of Governors ;signed by the chairman (Mr. C. A. deLautour): “The Gisborne High School will open after the Christmas holidays. It is impossible for the Governors any longer to subsidise the District High School. Aided by them for about twenty-four years the District School has done its work well, and its inevitable disestablishment must be in some measure ia matter of regret to (all wlio have been in, any way responsible ior its management. The progress of the district and the fact that High .Schools are now free to all children who can obtain a certificate of proficiency make it imperative tlijit there should be a fully equipped and efficient High School at Gisborne. It had been decided to establish such a school. A headmaster has been appointed, and a second master is now being selected. Air. Gafland, who has received the appointment of headmaster, will bring with him an intimate knowledge of the most approved system of secondary education, adapted to' the actual circumstances of a- great pastoral and dairying district. The education offered will be of practical assistance to all pupils, whether it he determined that bo of practical assistance to all pupils, whether it be determined tnat surveyors, merchants, or professional men. There will no longer bo any necessity to send iany child awkiy from the district for education, as the best secondary education to be obtained in tho Dominion, preliminary to a, Univeristy course, will be available to every pupil able to attend the High School lat Gisborne. Ten boarding’ house (allowances of £ls oacfigwill he offered to country children (resident more than five miles from Gisborne. These will be allotted_ to some extent in ordeir of application, and in all cases in order of merit, judged upon this year’s closing examination results. In tlie absence of an available site it will be necessary for some time to make use of the vacant rooms in the Technical School, adjacent to the Primary School. This can only be looked upon as a temporary expedient until the site for la, separate schopl chin be obtained and buildings are provided for.. It is most important that those intended to join should be in attendance at the commencement of the term. Ground (lost at the start of ia school year earn never be whoQy recovered. Parents wishing to send their children must make early application. I his is especially important in the' case or pupils joining from country .schools, as the rblil of those who are to receive boarding allowances must be settled before the opening of the term.