The High Schools

Southland Times, Issue 14816, 18 December 1900, Page 4

The High Schools

+, ■-■ NEW CENTURY. DESIRABLE REFORM. TO THE EDITOB. Sib, — The High "School is fortunately be- ( coming more and more what its founders ( hoped it would become — a public school, a , State school. As the endowments increase .... in value, the governors will doubtless enlarge its usefulness by increasing the number of free education scholarships and make t the benefits it will afford worthy of the dis- ' trict and of the wise forethought of those j who planned and legislated for its establish- ( ment. I have the highest respect for the | teaching staff and their ability to impart ( the knowledge they possess to the pupils j under them. I don't know that any school possesses a more capable body of teachers iv- , ctividaaUy or collectively. The school . being well situated, the staff excellent, it \ is a pity that there should be anything connected or appertaining to the school which j is objectionable. There is, however, -a sys- , tern among the boys of inducting new scholars into the school,- which is injurious to the ( school, injurious to the boys themselves, and cruel in some cases. When new scholars , are admitted, the elder boys think they are ( doing something very clever in the way of initiating them into school fellowship, by , ducking them in the creek, squeezing them ( between the door and the wall. The first - form of initiation, although unpleasant, in , not so dangerous as the squeezing; but ducking in the creek is not very pleasant. To a \ strong healthy boy such an initiation would , be a joke, but all" boys fit to attend the , High School are not of the same physical j and mental capacity. The reform 1 wish to \ submit to the governors and teachers is the , abolition of this practice. lam not afraid , of punishing boys who do wrong. I have as- \ sisted to bring up a large family. I believe , I never punished one of my children when ( angry, but I have punished them. In punishment a material point to consider is the mental aud physical characteristics of . the child. Big High School boys have not \ reached that altitude, they consequently serve out to nervous boys, delicate boys, little boys a uniform treatment. Now, why should euch things be permitted in a public school. le it not a suitable time, the commencement of thenewcentury, to iitfiston the abolition of such unpleasant appendages to a public school ? I think the headmaster and ' his assistants could prevent such hoire play. ' I think it is their duty Uj do so. Will they do so ? — I am, etc., A Paki;nt. Invercargill, 15th, Dec.