THE STANDARDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11452, 17 June 1899, Page 6

THE STANDARDS.

I ' TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Mr A. W. Tyndall has started a discuspion on the proposal for freedom of classification. - His known abilty and independence of- character demand the careful consideration of anything lie may write, and I must confess to having a good deal of sympathy with his arguments so far as they go." I have all along ,iought, not'so-much against the standard as aj^inst the 'over-loaded, state of the syllabus. But a letter signet! " J.C." forces me to state a few facie, which, .1 think, may saTely be used ac- arguments in iavour of that freedom of chs<af?catibn advocated by the N.Z.E.I. "J.C." contradicts the Hon. John' MacUregor'e seemingly ex cathedra statements ; but i evjino dixe- .omnes—" Standards beine a method of stuffing." Have they not? At any rate both teachers and the board have thought so. The teachers a few years ago passed a resolution at ihe annual meeting of the institute- not -to i'keep in" more than half an hour per, diem, and the board has a rule against over-working for examination. Were teachers, .who are members of the institute,- as; honourable as most trade unionists they would strictly adhere to' the rule, but do they?,. I've known a, teacher who has taken his smart pupils to" his own home each 'school evening to work them up in pass subjects, no doubt to get the word "excellent." Then others work as-late as 5.30 p.m. "Is this done for the love of education, or to get good results? I need not go further.- The foregoing is proof'of the "stuffing" process! Referring again to smart pupils being overworked,. I might point out,'that "the parents can little know what future mental troubles they may be laying the foundation of. Just fancy a child of 11 going out at night to work arithmetic and grammar!—l am, etc., Waitahuna Gully, June 14. A. M B -