THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1940, 24 July 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1869.

'J'kc question of the education of girls was left in somewhat of a state of uncertainty at the close of the session of the Provincial Council. There did not appear to be any question as to the advisability of taking steps to secure means for giving an education to those willing to avail themselves of it, su erior to anything hitherto attainable in the Colony ; but unable to decide, the whole matter was remitted for enquiry to Commissioners suggested by the Council. The meeting of the General Assembly has interfered, and rendered the postponement of their duties necessary, but the question must not be allowed to sleep, for it is of vital importance to our progress. The chief obstacle to the adoption of immediate

measures being taken last session was, that suitable buildings for school purposes were not available. It is very evident that the question of suitability must depend upon the system of education adopted. When the High School buildingswere designed and constructed, it was considered they were fully equal to the requirements of a school ; perhaps they were sufficient for the contemplated system. But this points to the necessity of looking forward carefully and assuming that preparation must be made for carrying into execution the best plans that experience has devised for imparting knowledge. It cannot be too strongly urged that imperfect arrangements, although apparently the cheaper at the moment, must eventually prove the most expensive. There is not a schoolhouse built in the city that has not been found defective in one respect or another. Either they have been found far too small for the number of children attending them, or there is no provision for teaching separate classes, or there is defective ventilation. In fact, the last-named defect is common to all, more or less. It is apparently the one thing neglected in all public buildings. There is not a church in the city in which adequate arrangements are made for it, and where in the first instance a proper system was contemplated, it was marred by the ill-directed intei’ference of partially-informed officials or the half measures of the architect. The question of warming schools and public buildings is not even imagined necessary. Yet all these things enter into an efficient system, and are far more easily dealt with in the original designs than by any alteration that may afterwards be found advisable. It seems to have been thought that so long as floor room was provided for a number of pupils to stand on, and desks for writing with forms to sit on, all was done that was necessary. Not only in the district schools, but in the High School, this seems to have been the leading idea. That it might be very well where the attainment of reading, writing, and arithmetic are considered the disiderata, there can be no doubt. But better things are aimed at now than mere rudi mentary education. We have men of high attainments as teachers for boys. We look forward to having a girls’ school, with equal provision for imparting the most advanced instruction ; and it is unfair to them to expect that they shall do the best work with the most imperfect machinery. The ideal of what education should be was set forth in the report of the Rector of the High School, thus: “ It will suffice in the “ meantime to say that, whilst we do not “ intend to follow servilely in the wake “ of any particular school or schools, “ or to adopt in its entirety any system “ of education already established, we “ hope, by availing ourselves of the “ improvements suggested by the lead- “ ing educational reformers, and by “ adapting our teaching to the require- “ ments of the Colony and of the Pvo- “ vince, to impart an education to our “ pupils, which shall be at once prac- “ tical, sound, and liberal, and calculated “ to prepare them for the proper and “ honorable discharge of the various “ duties and responsibilities of private “ life,” This is the high aim in the education of boys. Anything short of that would be waste of talent and energy on the part of the teachers, of time on the part of the pupils, of capital on the part of the Province. But in order to realise it, every facility must be given to those who have to guide the machinery, and if that be defective good work cannot be expected from the hands of even the highest class of workmen. It is therefore of importance that the opinion of those who have to use the machinery should be borne in mind as to what it now is and what it should be. The Hector, alluding to the suitability of the building reported “ A building we cer- “ tainly have, with a considerable “ amount of space for teaching, so far “ as mere area is concerned, but the “ accommodation is so badly arranged “ that it is almost next to useless for “ teaching purposes. The central hall, “ in which the greater part of our “ teaching must always be done, has “ apparently been constructed u any reference to the principles of 11 acoustics. Apart from the very great “ tax on the master’s physical eneru gies resulting from this oversight, the “ discipline of the school is bound to “ suffer materially, as nothing contri- “ bates so much to the preservation of “ becoming order and subordina- “ tion in a schoolroom as the “ issue of commands or prohibitions “ in a low, clear, tone of voice. Again, “ neither of the two class rooms is “ large enough for a writing room, or “ for classes in natural science. I need “ say nothing regarding the rooms in “ the upper storey, as they are alto- “ gether unfit for the purposes of teach- “ ing.” In the “ Report of Committee “ on Educational and Philanthropic “ Institutions,” it is recommended to adopt this clumsily designed building

to a boys’ aud girls’ seminary. The Committee say, “ The opinion of a com- “ petent architect having been obtained, “ he positively states, that with the ex- “ ception of the pediment of the portico “ and a few minor matters, all the rest “ of the masonry of the building is in “ perfect order ; that by adapting it for “ the purposes designed, a saving of 50 “ per cent, in the cost of the building “ would be effected ; and that for a “ sum of less than j£3,000, ample suit- “ able accommodation could be provided “ for a boys’ and girls’ seminary, as “ well as a Rector's residence.” This the Commissioners will have to enquire carefully into. We have due respect for the opinion of “ competent” architects, when they know exactly what they are exected to provide for. We have every respect for the opinion of Provincial Councillors, who, no doubt, act up to the light given them ; but we are not sure that either class are competent to decide upon the machinery necessaay for a high-class modern education for boys ; aud still less for girls. The first question to be settled is what that education is to include ; and, that decided, the necessary arrangements will not prove so difficult to determine.