EDUCATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5557, 20 January 1879, Page 3

EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES, gm, Tho discussions on tho various subjects brought for consideration before the conference of school committees for the city of Wellington the other evening, as well ns the matter of the subjects themselves, are deserving of much more than a casual glance or a mere passing notice from the various country committees throughout the whole of the Wellington educational district. Tho meeting of delegates, being as it was held by and entirely composed of gentlemen who represent city wants and requirements only, cannot bo supposed for one moment to present a reflex of, or to enable one to form any proper estimate of, the opinions held by tho district in general; nay, in fact, it is more than possible that in most country districts it will be found that on one or two of the principal points raised for discussion very widely different to those expressed at the meeting the other night prevail in tho minds of the majority of those interested. Let us take them in their order. Ist. No doubt it would be a very valuable aud useful thing to have the female scholars in these schools regularly taught sewing, and possibly in the city schools it may be quite practicable or easy to arrange it. In the Country, however, it will most probably be found that the proposal to extend the school hours for this or any other purpose will bo greeted with disfavor as well by the parents as by the teachers. When the scholars have to walk long distances it will bo found that the hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. are quite long enough for their daily attendance at tho schoolhouse, particularly as their night work has to be performed afterwards. Then, tho question of furnishing material, &c., and the choice of work, would form another difficulty. As to boys, they will pick up the way to put on a shirt button, or to repair any little mischief done to their clothes, without being set down to be made Mollys of when they expect to be engaged in outdoor pursuits. I myself can, besides a little fancy work and knitting, manage lots of little necessary jobs of this kind, though never regularly taught them at school, and in the latter, though perhaps not so noted for neatness as trained proficients, yet, like the country cobbler, I generally “ beats’em for strength.” I would remind Archdeacon Stock that schoolmasters are not tailors, as a rule. 2nd. With regard to the payment of teachers, Mr. Wilson’s proposal would undoubtedly be a step in the right direction. Tho proposal seems to be that, so soon as the Board have passed the periodical instalments of salaries, these should at once be remitted to tho chairman of the local committee in each case, and by him paid over to the teacher as soon as they become due. This would take out of tho hands of the Secretary the arbitrary and quite illegal power of stopping salaries after they have been voted, an instance of which occurred at Carterton the other day, when after all tho matter had to be referred to the local committee, and the master was meanwhile most unjustly kept out of his salary, which he had earned, and which had been voted by the Board, merely at the ipse dixit of the Secretary, who usurped a power which he does not legally possess. The school committees do not possess such a wondrous amount of responsibility, as stated by Mr. Moginnity, but rather the contrary; and the argument that because there may be a change of members every twelve months they cannot perform such a simple duty as that of paying the teacher his monthly salary, is a simple absurdity. If they cannot perform such a function as that, they may as well cease to exist. The value of the power would be to protect tho teachers from annoyance consequent on the caprice or arbitrary conduct of the Secretary, and to judge from experience of the present regime, would probably prove a very beneficial change of system. 3rd. With regard to the removal of teachers, no doubt they should not be removed without the cognizance of the local committee, or at least of tho chairman, who would be responsible for his action to the committee ; and in this instance again Mr. Maginnity need not be the least afraid that the committee oaks too much ; the proposal is merely that the secretary should not be allowed to act at his own will and pleasure only. 4th. No one, I imagine, will be found to defend the practice of striking children on the head. That corporal punishment, properly administered, and in the proper place, is necessary at times, has been proved by long experience; but no teacher, or parent either for that matter, ought to be guilty of resorting to such a dangerous method of punishment, particularly as corporal punishment is gen;rally administered more or less in anger. sth. The only other matter worthy of comment is the proposed establishment of Savings Banks. The information to be gleaned from reading the report is rather vogue, but I gather that the intention of the proposers is, that the system should be introduced into all Government schools. To this proposal I think it will be found that very strong objections will be raised. The excellent system of Post Office Savings Bank, which has been much benefited by the fostering care and watchfulness of the Hon. Mr. Hal), of Canterbury, affords ample facility tor securing the object, aimed at, viz., the furnishing a convenient and simple means to the people to lay by their surplus earnings, and thus encouraging habits of frugality and forethought for the future. But besides their being no actual necessity to multiply institutions of this sort, you will be placed in this dilemma ; either you must expect the teacher to act as a clerk, and throw upon him a responsibility which he will be very unwilling to take, and which you have no right to demand from him, and which will increase his labor very considerably ; or you must expect tho chairman or some member of each school committee to accept all the trouble and responsibility entailed. In either case, you will, I feel satisfied, signally fad. I have seen the working of a penny bank in a largo country parish in England, and I am not likely to under-rate its usefulness. But there, my father, who was the incumbent of the parish, voluntarily gave an immense deal of time and trouble for the benefit of his poorer parishioners. I have resided in various parts of this provincial district, and I was for some time a member of a school committee, and I am satisfied that you will not succeed in carrying out this proposed scheme satisfactorily in country localities. If in the city the committees think it advisable of their own accord to establish such institutions, by all means let them do so. There are resident there plenty of gentlemen who have time and leisure to devote to such duties, bat in the country it is not so. There those who are most interested in the Government schools have other things to attend to, and I am satisfied that any attempt to incorporate such a system into the general system of education throughout the country will result in a failure. If we had in eyery school district one so earnest and so able and willing to devote himself to such matttera as Archdeacon Stock, no doubt the proposal might be carried out effectually ._ As it is, the Government have already tarnished a system which is convenient, which answers every purpose, and which is extensively used; and I say do not unless n very urgent and pressing necessity and demand for it is proved, either attempt to force on the teachers a responsibility or a duty which they will be very unwilling, nay, almost unable to undertake, or, on the other hand, discourage persons from coming forward and undertaking duties which they cheerfully accept now as committee men, but which they would be unwilling to undertake if the proposal were carried into effect, and their labor and trouble very considerably increased. It is fortunate that the consideration of the matter has been postponed, for now attention has been moio explicitly drawn to the subject and an opportunity given for its more full aud careful ventilation through the medium of the public Press. I cannot help thinking, then, that it will be found when the subject has been more carefully ventilated that tho proposal to make this a substantive part of our educational system will not find favor with the majority of those interested who are resident outside tho limits of tho City of Wellington. As yet, as will he seen by reference to an advertisement in another column, while four committees have held a conference on the matter, thirty-four have not been consulted, and have expressed no opinion, and I will venture to say that a largo majority of these will be found to be unwilling to support the scheme. This, however, will in no way prevent Archdeacon Stdck from carrying out his pet scheme in any case where he can secure the consent and assistance of the committee, and make such arrangements as will enable a proper system of accounts of deposits to be kept, and will afford good security for the safe custody of such deposits. At present these requisites are to be found ready to hand in the Post Office Savings Banks, and there seems to be no necessity for multiplying these institu-

tions, nor has any demand been rnado for them. At any rate we are now on the eve of the annual election of school committees, and as tho subject has been mooted, it is \vcll that the public should give careful attention to it, and should be careful whom they select in future to represent them, when the decision upon so important a question with respect to our educational system has to bo arrived at. I am far from holding that there should bo any antagonism between town and country, but it must be remembered that often the circumstances of the two arc not analogous. I am, &c„ Alpha. Lower Hutt, January 14,