TEACHING AND THE CANE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 18 December 1928, Page 8

TEACHING AND THE CANE

Sir;—As a scholar of earlier days I would like to enter a protest against tho continual talking wo hear against early methods ol" teaching. Twice during the last week, I have listened at a "break-up ceremony and a school concert about the dreadful cane wo all had in the days cone by. I agree that the cane was used too freely; being a mere girl at the time I did not get much of it, but my point is this: why is there never a word said about the kindness oE our many excellent teachers we pupils had in earlier days. Believe me, we didn't all learn our lessons at the point ,of the stick, as so many speakers would have the present children understand, but we did our work for much the same reason as the scholars do to-day—keen interest in our work, and hero worship for our teachers. Let me mention 'a few—Miss Hclyer, Miss M'Gowan, Miss Wallace, Miss Eothonberg, and the late loved Miss Kate Lawson. Also, we had good singing, excellent concerts with packed houses, and every week interesting club and polo exorcises under Mr. Do May., Under the circumstances, I think our teachers did excellent service, and it would be in better taste if the speakers on the platform would give the "cane" a spell if that is all they can say of the primary schools of earlier days. I give unstinted praise to the, teachers of to-day. Having three children of school age, I know something of their work. One speaker said he thought tho parents did not appreciate . what the teachers were doing to-day for the children. I-.bcg to differ. All good parents appreciate what the teachers are doing for their children, and we folk who are members of the Parents' Association, etc., aro doing what we can to help them. Let me close witli "three cheers" for the many good teachers of bygone days who didn't always use the cane.—l am, etc., WELLINGTON-BOKN.

(To the Editor.)