THE Kawhia Settler And RAGLAN ADVERTISER. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1910. School Matters.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 477, 22 April 1910, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler And RAGLAN ADVERTISER. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1910. School Matters.

We have called attention in previous issues to the expedience of parents and residents taking a more active interest tn matters affecting the educational welfare of their children. One of the principal defecis of our system of free education is the want of appreciation which most oeople exhibit towards anything that does not represent an effort either physical or financial, and it cannot be too deeply imoressed on citizens of the Dominion the rare advantages the colony offers in this respect. Children of ordinary intelligence and aptitude have placed before them the possibility of reaching the highest scholastic attainments and in this respect at least, we have adopted the principles of Socialistic propaganda—equality of opportunity for all. A most noticeable feature of our school system is the manner in which these benefits are taken advantage of; in the scattered settlement of the back blocks, the most strenuous efforts are put forth to secure the possibilities of education, and land is readily given, buildings erected, and teachers housed to gain that end, while in the more populous centres the services of a truant officer are required to enforce the provisions of tbe Act. While the settler is satisfied with tbe mere elementary education provided by oar primary sohools, the City scholar has witbin his grasp both technical and secondary schools for tbe acquisition of knowledge which gives him a considerable handicap over his country cousin in tbe race of life. There is, however, one phase of school life which has attracted practically universal notice throughout the Ktnpir , a question which is common to both town and country—the Bubject of introducing military in struction in our schools. Apart from its bearing on the defence aspect, tbe advantages to be derived from a systematic training are readily apparent, and the enforced discipline should prove of the greatest good in after life. In cur case a course of drill and military instruction w .uld fur nish £* channel fur the .-opt rubundant spirits of our rising gu'.i r<n mi, create and foster a patriotic nud Im. perial sentiment, and and mako them fitter citizens in any avocation they may be destined to adopt. The school cadet corps can be regarded as ithe nursery of our volunteers and territorials, into which tboy can be dovetailed naturally, and can bo made to grow up with and be trained in methods and manners which will improve both their military and civilian standard.