THE THREE R’S REVISED.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 208, 19 August 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE THREE R’S REVISED.

| Time was when the three “ R’s ' marked the standard of elementary-,-chool knowledge. But that has been left behind long ago, and what the boy or girl of fourteen is expected to knoiv ' to-day—and frequently does —is little j short of perfection. I What this modern standard is has • just been established by the London County Council, and is now being coni sidered by the heads of various schools. On leaving school, the Council says, a , child ought: i To be able to write a business letter ■ in a good business hand, correctly phras- : ed and spelt. To know its Shakespeare and the English poets. To be able to tell the difference between Imperial and local government. i To have a world-wido view on geo- ' graphical matters. i To understand the types of people on ' the globe, and go a long way towards ; qualifying for a seaman in the matter of winds and tides.

In mathematics, to understand the use of graphs, now a special feature of blue-books.

To be able to reckon percentages easily as a stockbroker does. To be able to draw- and paint from Nature and sketch from memorv. Knowledge of the laws of health and exnerlmental science.

And, of course, the boy or girl need not ston at those. R-’t this is the modern standard required before any • bought of earning a living should be entertained.

THE INSURANCE AGENT

The bell rang ti.ree times, and the man at the desk hastily reached for a Uannel bandage. This lie put round his neck, 'i'nen lie arranged a sling, in which he put one arm, disarranged his hair, drew down the corners of his mouth, got out of his chair, and painiul.y limped towards the door. “ Mr. Jones? ” inquired the welldressed caller who opened it at that moment.

The man with the bandage half-sup-pressed a groan. Yes, that’s my name. What can 1 do for you ? ” “ You appear to be suffering? ” said the intelligent caller. “ Suffering! ” returned the other. “ Do you think I’m doing this for fun? But what is your business, sir? ” “ Er —pardon me,” stammered the caller, “ I think I’ll drop in some other time—eh? ”

“ It’s some trouble,” soliloquised the man with the bandage, as ho removed tho paraphernalia and returned to the desk. “ But it is really the quickest way to get rid of these life insurance agents. That man will never trouble me again.”

PLAYING HAMLET

When a certain popular actor was younger and less discreet, he had a vaunting ambition to play “ Hamlet.” So with his first profits, he organised his own company, and went to a provincial town to give vent to his ambition.

When he arrived back in town a group of friends noticed that he appeared to be much downcast. “ What’s the matter. Thm? Didn’t they appreciate it? ” asked one. They didn’t seem to.” laconically answered the actor. “ Well, didn’t they give any encouragement ? Didn’t they ask you to come before the curtain? ” persisted the friend. " Ask me?” be almost shouted. “Man, they dared me! ”

in excellent wav of winning an nrgn- ! ment is just to keep silence until the i n+K.-W person Tses >t.