CHRIST'S COLLEGE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 984, 16 April 1862, Page 4

CHRIST'S COLLEGE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton I'imes. Sir, —The' thanks of the College are due to you, both for your favourable notice of the Grammar School, and for the claim you put forward on our behalf that we should be delivered from the humiliation and injustice of the kind of inspection to which we are at present subjected. lam extremely unwilling to say anything disparaging of the Inspector of Schools, whose attainments would be highly creditable to him if he were content to confine himself to those departments in which he is really competent to examine; but at the same time lam bound to say that the opinion you have formed of his qualifications to examine in Latin and. Greek is abundantly warranted by facts which have passed under my own observation. The now famous " cvi refert" anecdote is not only founded on fact, but is really only one among many similar eccentricities. But I should not have troubled you with any remarks on the subject had it not been for one passage in the Inspector's report, which, you justly say, " demands inquiry," and " the truth of which," you add, " we understand the authorities of the Grammar School are anxious to have tested." The Inspector says, " Lads of fourteen and upwards leave our best school, the Grammar School, without being qualified to enter upon such occupation as they require ; their services are declined by our leading mercantile firms on the ground of their insufficient knowledge of arithmetic." Now, this statement was so startling, and so contrary to opinions which had reached us from sources entitled to credit that on the first occasion on which I saw Mr. Restell, after having read it in his resport, I ventured to ask him on what facts this passage of his report was based. In reply he did not mention the mercantile firms alluded to, but gave me the names of two boys, who he said were those he had in view. I will now state the particulars of the connection of these two boys with the Grammar School, and leave the public to judge whether the statement of the Inspector is wellfounded and just, or the contrary. The first boy, let us call him A. 8., came to us at the age of 12, fresh from a long voj^age, and stayed with us not quite three-quarters of a year. He was placed in the fourth class from the top of the school, and remained in the same till he left. C. D., the next, came at the age of 12, not having been at any school for two years previously. He was with us nominally for a year and a quarter, but was absent one whole quarter during that time; a very considerable break in so short a period. When he left, he Avas also in the fourth class, reckoning from the top. These facts may be proved by our school register. Under these circumstances, then, if their rejection were a fact, of which I know nothing, I do not suppose that it would reflect any great discredit upon us. We do not profess to take backward boys of 12, and make them fit for a merchant's countinghouse iv nine or twelve months. With respect to " boys from other provinces," if it be true that they are so superior to our home-bred ones, it is certainly marvellous tkt % should continuo to be sent to us, when the expense of the voyage and the board are taken into consideration. Out of a school now numbering 73, in constant at-' tendance, no less than 13 are extra-provincials. At a time, when we are compelled, by increasing numbers, to advertise for additional assistance in the school, and to provide additional accommodation in the Avay of building, we might well afford to take little notice of Mr Restell's unfair remarks; but looking to the interests of education generally, the credit of the province, and the injury which might be inflicted by such vague and reckless statements on any institution less known and of more recent date, I think the public will be inclined to say, if we are to have no better inspection than this, not Cvi Refert, but Cvi Bono ? I am, Sir, yours faithfully, HENRY JACOBS. - Head-master of Christ's College Grammar School. The College, April 14,1862.