SCHOLASTIC PLEBISCITE.

Press, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5329, 4 October 1882, Page 3

SCHOLASTIC PLEBISCITE.

TO THS KDITO- OV _H_ P-XSS. Sib, —The following novel circular has been sent round to tbe parents of children attending bur district sohool:—" Mr —— Are you satisfied with the progress made by your children duriog the time they have attended the Balcairn sohool. Yes. So. If satisfied scratch out' No,' if dissatisfied seatoh out 'Yes,' and return the paper.— W. C. F_H_Al_, Chairman Sohool Committee." This, sir, has been sent to us after the result of a very successful examination of the school, and what purpose or motive was to be served or prompted its issue it is difficult to oonceive. Do our oonunittee want to obtain a more positive proof of the teachers' work than the inspector's report, or do they wish to insinuate that the latter gentleman's qualifications are deficient, and that the parents are bettor judges of sohool progress than he is. Tn any case, the scrstohings were somewhat limited. I understand in only two instances was theyes " scratched." There are possibly soma amongst our community who have not yet learned that certain causes follow effects in the ordinary course of nature, and that even a schoolmaster cannot bring about a reversal of nature's laws. " Like parent like child." If the schoolmaster of twenty years ago failed in ensuring the penetration of ideas through the thick skull of the father, some persons, tor instance, entirely fail to see how it is that the teachers of the present day fail in producing Shakespeares, Newtons, Stephensons, or Gladstones from certain of the pupils submitted to their care. My own idea it that it is expecting too much. All the members of the Baloaim sohool committee are sensible, highly educated men, and it's to be regretted that they hare called on the people to either bless or curse the schoolmaster, because although the people have altogether blessed him, the proceeding is one which most cause some dissatisfaction, and it by means ef your valuable paper you will point this out it may be to the edification of other committees in the colony. Yours, Ac, Alma Maths Balcairn, September 26th.