THE NAVY LEAGUE ESSAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20499, 29 August 1928, Page 4

THE NAVY LEAGUE ESSAYS.

TO TEE EDITOE. Sir, —I am confident that all truBritishers are proud of the fact that due importance has recently been conceded to that often discounted branch of national service, the British mercantile marine, by the honour conferred on the Prince of Wales by the Shipmasters’ Association; but I regret that the primary school children of Otago have been the victims of such a reciprocal compliment. “ What the merchant sailor does and has done for the British Empire ” has been looming big on the mental horizon of pijpils in the Fifth and Sixth dards for the past three months. Fortunately, I Lave contrived, since my entry into the teaching profession, to build up a library in which historical publications predominate; but a perusual of these did not assist me to any extent, the operations of the lesser branch being reduced to a paragraph here and a paragraph there. I should be sorry for the examiner who must needs allocate marks to essays of pupils who had to rely only on their own resources for information. To the average country child, with no facility for preparation, such a subject is grossly unfair. Under such conditions the wi iting of an essay for competition is an educational farce. The teacher does the preparation; the child mcrelv *• parrots ” his statements. In large towns access can be gained to a good reference library; in the rural districts the unfortunate child “ homeward plods his weary way " through the mists of intellectual bewilderment. Having gleaned the matter for nresentation from several test books, I pondered on the mental reception that would be given to this by the child. Much of the matter was vaguely general, whereas the average pupil revels in the deeds of human beings that are particularised. Armed with this, unpsychological conglomeration of notes, I was sorry not for myself hut for the poor youngsters, shortly to be forcibly fed with indigestible facts. Evidently the misguided person- who set this title for an essay is not a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ■Children. —I am, etc., “ Magistee.” LAKE COUNTY A. AND P. SOCIETY XO THE EUITOK Sib, —Among the many valuable records that were lost in the unfortunate fire which destroyed the offices of the Lake County Press in Arrowtown on Friday last were all the books and records of the Lake County A. and P. Society. The executive of the society would be very grateful to any possessors of any old catalogues or programmes or any letters or papers bearing on the doings of the society since its inception, if they would forward them to the secretary, Mr P. M. Tobin, Arrowtown, so that we may regain as complete a set of records as possible.—• I am, etc., Leo Lee, President L.C. A. and P. Society. Lower Shotover, August 27. THE ARCADE. ’.() uiixon. Sib, —The syndicate owning the Arcade has, in reply to correspondents, stated that the eight-foot strip fronting part o£ the proposed new street was of no value, as it was simply a lighting area for the adjoining property’. According to your plan this property belongs to Davis and James. Are these owners included in the syndicate? If so, then that eightfoot strip is as valuable as the rest of the property which would still remain to the syndicate should the loan be carried. After viewing your plan the uselessness of the proposed street as a traffic thoroughfare is apparent. Should it come to be, then I consider we would be simply creating the most dangerous zone in the city.—l am, etc.. A. M. Dunedin, August 2S.