THE HEAD-MASTER OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5996, 4 February 1881, Page 6

THE HEAD-MASTER OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —I am not in the habit of writing to the newspapers, but I consider it my duty to do so on this occasion, that I may bear my testimony to the ability of Mr. Macrae, and to his fitness for the position of headmaster of the Grammar School. I consider that I am well qualified to bear testimony as I was for six years one of Mr. Macrae's pupils, while he was the head-master of the Auckland High School, one of my brothers was a pupil for a similar term, while another brother was for a longer time under his tuition, first at the High School, and afterwards at the Grammar School, the result of that tuition being that my brother, Robert Henry Rattray has taken the degrees of B. A. aud LL.B., thus proving that, though Mr. Macrae is not himself a graduate of any University, he is capable of imparting such instruction to his pupils as will enable them to graduate. Reverting to the time when I was under Mr. Macrae's tuition, I may mention that though the fees at the High School were considerably larger than those charged at any other school in the city, I believe I would be right in saying in the colony, the school was always full, and those parents who wished their sons to be admitted had to make application months beforehand. What was the. reason of this ? It was on account of Mr. Macrae's excellent system of tuition. The boys were taught the rudiments properly, before the higher branches of a study. Thus, in learning Latin, they, were thoroughly well grounded in the grammar before attempting translation; in learning arithmetic, they were taught to be expert and accurate in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, before they were taught proportion, fractions, &c. The superiority of Mr. Macrae s system was very evident when scholars came to the High School who had been at other schools in the city or colony. Those who had been in the highest classes in the schools in which they had been were unfit to cope with.boys in the second, or even in the third class in the High School, because they had not been properly grounded in the rudiments. The system adopted in other schools was that of a man who builds > a house without proper foundations, being

merely anxious • to ran up his building as soon as possible, whereas Mr. Macrae's system -was that of a careful builder, who would not begin his house until he had first laid a firm foundation. The.ultimate results of the two systems are too obvious to'require comment. In conclusion, I may mention that so firm a hold did Mr. Macrae obtain of the respect and affection of his pupils at school that, long after they had left, scores of them, myself among the number, have looked up to him and consulted him, as a trustworthy friend -and adviser. This, Mr. Editor, shows what I think, and what many others of his former pupils think, of the gentleman whom Mr. Fenton considers incapable to be head-master of the Auckland College and Grammar School simpiy because he has not qualified himself to place the letters B.'A. or M.A. after his name. Apologising for the length of this letter—l am, &c, William Rattray. Mount St. John, February 2.