THE PROVINCIAL SCHOLARSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4384, 1 December 1875, Page 5

THE PROVINCIAL SCHOLARSHIP.

To the Editor of the TTkt?at.t>. Sik, —It is said that there is but one competitor come forward for the two Provincial Scholarships offered by the Board of Education, and open to lads from every school in. the Erovince. It appears that these scholarships are of the annual value of £50 each, tenable for two years, and that they further - carry with them tuition free of expense to the holders, in the Auckland College and Grammar School. As I understand it, the lads while holding these scholarships must of necessity attend and be taught at the •- Auckland College and Grammar School. That, sir, I think, is sufficient to account for the seeming apathy, or remissness, on the part of the masters of what may be called the outside schools. Masters can hardly be expected to induce their best scholars to compete with the prospect of losing them altogether from their schools. Independent ■ of the loss of the school fee, lads that would be likely to become successful competitors are, as a rale, endowed with other characteristics, such, for instance, as, obedience, order, amenable to discipline, &c, 4c. - , which render their presence in a, sctool exceedingly valuable even as examples. •If; sir, the Board of Education could advance a step and not only throw their Scholarships Qpen to all comers, but also leave it optional or allow the holders of them, or their friends,. to' select the school at which they shall ! continue to receive instructions, I think then there would be no lack of competitors: for the scholarships; and I think such a course would be in accord with the intentions of Her Majesty' representative when he. founded the "Trust" for the encouragement, of learning amongst Her Majesty's subjects. —I am, &c, William: Atkins. Tamaki, November 1, 1875.