THE TAIERI SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17874, 3 March 1920, Page 8

THE TAIERI SCHOOLS.

TO Tna KDITOH.. Hm-The spocial pleading of "Taicri Parnut" for ;i new brick school and residence for Mosgiel at tho expense* of the' surrounding dislriots led him to make a statement which is contrary to .fact when -lie said _ that tho grade of teacher in Mosgiel is higher t.lian that of the teachers in the smaller schools. A glance at the Now Zealand Gazette shows Ihufc some of the Taieri country tojich"rs are graded considerably higher than live of the certificated teachers in jVJ,osgiol. This in itself js of course no. argument for continuing to spend money on tho country schools if it, win bo proved that il is to tho advantage of the children to attend a large school. I do not believe that, "a child's individuality expands better in large olaasas." The reverse is the caso with young children, but 1 am willing to oonccde that at the ago of 11 or 12 years it is probably a great advantage to an intelligent country child to have the benefit of

competition with others of his own age in a town school. The ideal conditions lor tho teaching of young children, However, will always be found in tho country,- where Nature makes her everlasting appeal to heart and mind. It certainly should he a good investment for tho Government to spend more money in MosgieJ, especially to train the older children in scieutilic agriculture, and if, by arguing the question ill the newspapers such a consummation is reached, much good will be accomplished.—l am, etc., Moke Light. March 1.