TABLE TALK.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7139, 29 August 1888, Page 3

TABLE TALK.

[Weekly Press.] Just recently my attention has been directed to a publication issued every month in Christchurch in the interest of education. Of course, I mean the New Zealand Schoolmaster, which is said to be the special organ of the teaching profession throughout the colony. It is supposed to keep them in the ways that they ought to go, and in short, to be their guide, philosopher, and friend. Among its contents regularly appear series of examination papers- whether actual or fictitious Iknownot—for the various standards of our State Schools; I glanced over some of them. Surely, I thought whatever Professor Thomas of Auckland, or Justice Williams of Melbourne may say about the unsuitable, historical, and geographical studies presented for our young people, no mistakes of these kinds will find place in the Schoohnaster. Alas! I was disappointed, and whoever it is that draws up the historical papers are as fanatical chronologists as any who ever came within the scope of censure. Almost each historical paper had for the first question a demand for the student to give the date of something or other. This is history "as she is taught." Is it impossible for our teachers, inspectors, and editors o* teachers' journals to emancipate themselves from old traditions ? Are they one and all so much the slaves of custom that they think history is nothing but a record of dates ? Do they not see that the importance of an historical event consists not in the fact that'it happened on a certain day of the year, but in reasons which lead to its taking place at all ? If our educationists would only try to approach historical studies from the philosophical standpoint, it would be worth while to retain these tasks as part of the curriculum of our schools ; but if dates are to count as everything, and reasons as nothing, oar schoolmasters might as well close up their Colliers and cease to teach history at all. Now while I am indulging in a quiet grumble concerning educational subjects, I wish to make another remark of a somewhat cognate character. I notice from Southern papers that Otago and Southland are blessed with very learned Inspectors ; at least with inspectors who are seeking to inscribe their names on the rolls of authors. One gentleman has given to the public a geography, of which an edition of 10,000 has been printed. Of this edition one firm of booksellers has ordered 5,000, and no doubt the other moiety, as lawyers say, will meet with a ready sale. The strength of the other inspector lies in arithmetic, or at all events it is on that subject he pins his faith as an author. Whether his publication is meeting with the same recognition as that of his brother Inspectorauthor—history sayeth not. I should not be surprised, however, to find that sac. cess has beamed on him also. The reason is this: Teachers are reported to have a good deal to say in the of the books that are used by the pupils in these schools, and they have a very wholesome dread of inspectorial visits. Human nature is human nature andadmittingthatit is, what would we ex! pect to take place ? Well, just this, that I should be rather surprised if the books written by the inspectors were not in active demand and in common use. Now therein lies my objection. No wonder that big editions are the order of the day, and that far-seeing booksellers are buying up these geographies and arithmetics* No favouritism of any kind should creep into our education system. The best way to keep it out is put our inspectors, beyond the reach of temptation. They should be compelled to confine their talents to examining schools, and leave to others the task of writing the books which form the subjects of examination. A gentleman in Christchurch has recently made a discovery of a treasure which stood in danger of being lost from a want of knowledge of its artistic and intrinsic worth. The large picture of Edward Gibbon Wakefield in the art gallery at the Museum is well known, and the small study in Sepia from which the talented artist elaborated his greater work has just come to light in a curious way. At a sale at one of our local auction rooms a small picture begrimed with dirt and the subject of which was not too clear from dust was knocked down, chiefly for the sake of the frame, for the modest sum of three shillings. A gentleman to whom the lucky possessor shewed his purchase was struck with it and expressed bis admiration, upon which the picture was presented to him. Old closer examination and cleaning, the signature J Edgil-Collins was seen, and the small picture proved to be the study on which the fine work in the Museum was founded. The details of the little picture are carried out with the same care which marks all the works of this celebrated artist. The lucky possessor may congratulate himself on having a fine little picture which, but for the fact that his eye was struck by the masterly work of the artist, would have probably been cast aside as of little worth.