EDUCATION: TOWN v. COUNTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13894, 4 May 1907, Page 141

EDUCATION: TOWN v. COUNTRY.

Sir,—-Your correspondent Mr W. B. Stcol, in your issue of the 20th insl., waxes very eloquent on the supposed wrongs inflicted on town schools hv the undue preference shown to the country. Ilis letter is very eloquent, and the more suggestive when wt> consider the 22ml inst. was the date of the annual election of school committees. If he had not that object, wo will charitably ascribe it to a " cacoethes scribw.'dL" He carps at Mr Eraser for his endecivours on l>chalf of the country schools, and seems to think that the rural districts arc to benefit by Forbury's being deprived of a [.'rant for renovation. I consider the board's offer of half-cost very fair and generous. In a district such as Forbiuy School serves no great difficulty is experienced in raising funds for such a purpose. But what of many of our country districts where the settlers are poor and struggling? It is an impossibility to raw even half-cost.of the absolutely necessary requirements of the ■average country school, and I myself am aware of an .instance where, the committee being penniless, material for school use was provided by the teacher himself. Has vhis over happened in any of ihc ill-used town school?'/ I know of children trudging five miles to school and live miles from it daily. These same children have to work in (lie morning and in the. evening and all Saturdays to help their parents to make headway. They are being trained to go on the land when thev leave school—to be the hacklxmo of their country, and not to be the .starched ornaments of :i city's streets. Let Mr Steel lay the blame at the proper door before he employs his time in sneering at men who, unlike him, are able to reccivni.',e what the true need of the province is. He knows enough of matters educational to understand what the'craze for ceirtra&vtion hss cost Otago and her tchool; ah-eadv.—l- am, etc., Idaho. April 2il.