Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1906. EDUCATION AT HIGH PRESSURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1906, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1906. EDUCATION AT HIGH PRESSURE

When experts disagree upon a point such as that now being debated in the Dunedin Press, the truth may generally be accepted as lying mid-way. The subject is “feverish education,” “education at high pressure,” or “senseless cram.” The other day Dr King, the medical man in charge of the lunatic asylum, spoke in rather scathing terms regarding our system of

education, maintaining that it was a system of cram, injurious to the pupil and shallow in its results, where those results were beneficial. Some of the facts adduced were extremely sad, as for instance, that of the dux of the ptago Bays’ High School, and the dux of the Girls’ School for the same year, are both in Seacliffo hopelessly and permanently insane. This serious charge was certain to “meet the eye” of pugnacious Inspector Goyen, who attempts to ridicule Dr King’s contentions, although he admits “the words of Dr King, however, ought to be a warning to parents of highly-strung eager-minded, ambitions children, whoso physique is not stron genough to bear the strain of competitive examinations." The Inspector then goes on to declare that “in most, if not in all, cases of breakdown, responsibility lies, 1 believe, much more with the parents than with schools and the system of education." This is rather an extraordinary theory to advance. Surely a teacher who is in daily contact with a pupil should be the first to notice the signs of weariness and nervousness that foreshadow a breakdown, and seeing, like a competent human mechanic, ease down the. machinery. But, says Inspector Goyne, “in the case of an average child there need bo no alarm, for he will do just what ho must, and no more than that will pass the master in his class. Ho needs the spur, not the curb.” We really fear that the worthy inspector lias much to learn. The average lad does not require the spur. average lad is willing and fairly diligent. If more than fair diligence is asked for, more than fair work is required, then feverish education makes it appearance. Inspector Goyne declares there “need be no alarm.” Many a parent can tell a different tale. How often do they find their children tired and worried beyond measure on account of their school work. Many can tell of children in their sleep talking aloud and their talk is generally about school work—a plaintive cry “I can’t do this sum,” or “I don’t know my lesson,” betokening nervous

dr€ftd tbat must bo h&nuftil to the child. Many a mother has had experience of this, and many a wise mother has given her child a holiday—a necessary time to recuperate. Wo have always held that the system is too elaborate —much of the elaboration being quite unnecessary—and it is i pleasing to note that medical men are ( directing attention to the matter. The 1 late Dr Morice was a pronounced opponent of home work and frequently condemned what he termed “useless cram.” Wo find Dr Ogston, District Health Officer for Otago, joining issue with Dr King, and giving many instances in support of his contention. Some of this will be found in our special telegram column in this issue. Ho says : “The whole system is cramming to pass examinations, and not assimilating knowledge to be used in after life. Therefore the system leads to a waste of energy and no good result. Many young students have come to me in their University course, and I have seen the evil effects of cramming. As regards our primary schools I have had to advise parents to take their children from school, because they were being over-stimulated by examinations. The work of our primary and secondary schools is unscientific and burdensome. Nature lias not meant such children to cram.” The indictment is a serious one, and requires attention. The teacher has certain work to set him and he accomplishes the task as well as ho can. The medical man secs the result of that work in impaired and shattered constitutions and he speaks of the evil effects. If it comes to a question of a_ robust, healthy body and fairly educated mind versus an impaired constitution and high educational attainments, there can be no doubt that for the State and individual alike the former is preferable.. We could secure quite as sound an education with far less effort and divested of cram if we struck out a number of subjects that are quite unnecessary for a commercial education, which do not benefit (he pupil and which are thrown aside or forgotten in after life. Hr Ogston rightly says: “It would be far wiser to train pupils just to the extent of their capacity and let dull ones stop when they have absorbed as much learning as they can. Treated in that way' the boys who are not smart at examination work would often shine in something else, if pressed on to a break-down stage.”

the cry of the children It is difficult to find a daily or a weekly paper from either New York or London, that, does not contain evidence of the tragic burden that life is for the children of the great cities. Harper’s Weekly, in one of its editorial paragraphs, enquires airily, ‘■What makes Socialists?” And it supplies one very emphatic answer. Some men are made into Socialists by personal contact with facts so terrible that no remedy seems too drastic for them. Wc should think that John Spargo’s book “The Bitter Cry of the Children,” would bo responsible for the making of many Socialists. Mr Sparge talks of children four years old at work in canning factories in New York State, and of little girls five ami six years old working in Southern cotton mills at night, and he makes a pathetic picture of little Annetta Fachini, four years old, working with her mother making artificial flowers in her tenement homo at eleven o’clock at night. Ho measured the distance run every night by a boy" in a class-furnace. It was 22 miles. He tells of a glass factory owner who said that while it was true that machinery was as good as boys, he did not care to ‘’bother with machinery so long as ho could get boys. He speaks of protected Pennsylvania as the State that enslaves more children than any other. He speaks of protected manufacturers who in New York demanded the right to employ children four years old, and in the South have had laws repealed that forbade night employment of six year old children. In some States the manufacturers seem able* and willing to buy tho Administration body and soul. Child labor exists in America in forms and to an extent worse than tin; worst examples condemned by reformers in the days before factory legislation was instituted in England. The cure of these horrors, as Harper’s Weekly says, does not necessarily mean Socialism, but we need not wonder when men who have personal and painful knowledge of the great wrongs done to helpless human creatures by tho existing machinery of civilisation arc ready and even anxious to try drastic and sweeping remedies.

The Government has decided to proceed with erection of a road bridge across the Boiler River at Fern Flat.

English mails, via Sail Francisco, despatched from here on the sth April, arrived iu London on the 14th hist. Francis Gordon Waddell, found guilty of an assault on Mr S. Gilmer at Wellington, was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment.

Regarding the Greymouth Technical School, it is understood that Mr W. S. Austin, second master at the Greymouth State School, will have charge of the hoys’ carpentery classes.

A party of six young men have handed together and taken the Greenstone Junction dredge. They arc now engaged refloating the dredge, and getting the machinery in order preparatory to starting dredging operations.

Mrs Smyth, relict of the late J. N. Smyth, surveyor, was found dead iu bed (ids morning at the residence of friends on the Christchurch road, where she was making a short slay. Death was due to natural causes.

On Mondy last, the Town Clerk received a case from the Defence Department, containing trophies of the late Boer War. 7ne trophies comprise -ix Lee Enfield and six Martini-Henry rifles. They will be on exhibition in ihe Town Half. . , . By advertisement in another column, it will be seen that that old established boardinghouse, Boundary street (late Anseilne’s) and now in the occupation of Mrs Tindale, is for sale as a going concern. All particulars to be obtained from Nancarrow and Co.

At the Bank of New South Wales, the door mats at the entrance are very noticeable. They were made by the Salvation Army Prison Gate Brigade, and the quality is excellent. The local captain lakes orders for these mats.

The Slab Hut Creek dredge, which is working most satisfactory, has averaged 23 ounces since starting,not 20 ounces as slated in our yesterday’s edition. ihe prospects of this dredge at present are decidedly good, and the shareholders may look forward to another dividend within a few weeks.

Mr Bell has a large gang of men employed putting on a large addition to Messrs Holder and Sou’s warehouse in Mawhera Quay. From the street it is impossible to'sec operations, the extension being at the back of the premises. Mr Bell is also putting on the finishing touches to Messrs McKay and Sons addition.

At the Education Board meeting on Monday last, some discussion took place on the question of teachers participating in school committee elections. The trend of opinion seemed to be against teachers taking an active part in such matters, though the fact of attendance at such gatherings did not in itself present much cause for objection.

On Saturday the firing for the Governincut medals took place on the ureymouth Riffle Range, there being seven eompelitiors. The distances were 4UU, 500 and 700 yards, without sighters. ihe results will be known about May 24th. To-dav a squad of riflemen are at the butts,' firing in the competition for a marble clock.

Whether is was to emphasise the freedom of the country from crime or ns si joke we know not, but the fact remains that a County sub-enumerator has sent into the Census enumerator a form describing the Police lock-up in a mining township, as an “uninhabited dwelling at present.’

The current season at the Kokatahi Dairy Factory is expected to close about the end of the month, which is a few weeks earlier than last year, owing to the decrease of tho pastures and rojispquent lessening of the milk supply caused by the recen severe weather. Notwithstanding this fact, the output of butler is considerably in excess of what it was last vear.

At present three shifts are being worked at the drive in the Cobden quarry. The tunnel is in 30 feet, and will have to be driven another ten feet ore the “back” is struck. On this taking place, an uprise will be made for a good distance, after which a chamber will be opened out, in which to stow 'the powder tor the blast. It will bo some weeks before operations arc completed, and tho blast ready for firing. There is on view in Mr R. Masters window at Brunner a beautiful framed diploma, which has been forwarded from tho Melbourne Grand Lodge, to be presented to Bro. William Richards, who has so ably filled the District President s chair during the past year. The presentation is to be made at the anniversary gathering of the lodge, which takes place on tho 23rd lust.

The Brunner footballers have been spending their spare time lately clearing stumps and trees in one of Mr Joseph Taylor’s paddocks at Lower Taylorviue, ' which they purpose using as a football. § ground during the present season. The " Recreation Ground is to bo left idle for a year in order to give the grass sown in it time to take firm root. The paddock ’ lias been sown in grass for several years past. Government tourist agents from Canterbury and Auckland are ny visiting the West Coast to make themselves familiar with the local routes and beauty spots. They purpose visiting the Southern glaciers. It is expected that there will bo a large influx of visitors to the district during the next season and exhibition period. The idea is to have agencies well equipped with fullest local knowledge of the locality, so highly praised for its scenic wonders. The agents arc already greatly impressed with the attractiveness of the lakes visited. . At a committee meeting of the Greymouth Poultry Club held on Monday night, the Secretary reported that everything was well forward for this year's • show. The schedules and art union tic- ! kets will be in circulation in a few days. | The large list of special prizes were drawn for, and allotted to the poultry, pigeon, and canary classes. Mr J. B. Merrett, on behalf of the New Zealand Poultry Journal, has donated a handsome trophy valued at £5 5s to the best Wyandotte in the show and Mr J. Gairney, jeweller, has also donated a silver cup valued at £5 5s for the best bird batched and reared in the district. Strong competition is expected in all classes of poultry, so fanciers should not neglect to write to tho Secretary for a schedule, if they do not get one this week. The prize-list this year exceeds any previous show, both in • numbers and value.

A meeting of the Band Contest Committee was held at Hokitika last evening, Mr D. J. Evans presiding. A letter was read from the Grey Battalion Band, thanking the Committee for the general kindness shown, and specially mentioning the attention given them bv Mr Goodrich (one of the secretaries). I'he secretaries reported that all the accounts were not yet in. A financial statement was submitted, and was referred to the Executive to adjust. If expectations were realised, the deficiency would be about £3O. The total receipts had been £224. All the prize monev, judge’s expenses, etc., had boon paid.' The medals were on order and were now being inscribed, and would be ready for presentation shortly. Votes of thanks wore passed to the ladies and 1 gentlemen who bad assisted in various wavs, in judging, etc., also to the gentlemen who had kindly granted the use of rooms to the visiting bands. Mr J. C. Macfarlane, in moving a special vote of thanks to the Executive, hoped that the funds would permit of some little souvenir being handed to the gentlemen to mark their good work. Mr Mahan seconded the motion which was agreed to, and the meeting dissolved.