"IN LOCO PARENTIS."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 996, 10 December 1910, Page 4

"IN LOCO PARENTIS."

A HEADMASTER'S CORRESPOND ENCE. Mr. J. P. Firth,'headmaster of Wellington. College, receives, a good deal of correspondence in his official capacity as the "in loco parentis," and from his collection he 'selected yesterday some gems wherewith to ornament his speech at the annual prize-giving ceremony at the college. During an interesting re- 1 view of .the work of the. college gener-i ally, ho remarked: "No matter whafci views one may hold on educational matters, thero are certain to bo many strong opponents on those views. . I give hero a few that have been expressed to me. One man wrote:

"''The only way to teach boys so m to get good results from your teaching is to stand them in a row and test them' in the work they have been set to learn, beginning at one end with a cane an& finishing up with it at the other. ,1 " ' Boys should bo set no work at all , ' to learn, , asserted another. "Preparation so-called is worse than useless.'

" 'I do not feel inclined to submit id the brutality you have displayed in thrashing my boy,' was the indigianb' protest of parent number 3. " 'I have- no faith at all in the moral* suasion business,' said a stern parent. 'Give a boy a good thrashing, and it' does him a world of good.'

" 'Why,' inquired a disciple of thel 'suaviter in modo,' 'need boys be punished at all ? You can do as- much by; moral suasion. 1 . ' -

" 'I wish that, instead of punishing my boy by detention, you would give Ijim a sound thrashing, was the suggestion of a practical papa. " 'If my boy were lacking in ability? I could understand Mb failure; but he can't be that—look at me?' (This from, tho father of the boy.)

.." 'What can you expect of the'boy? Look at his 'father I , (This from ssf uncle of the 'same boy.)" • • >.