SOME OF THE ABSURDITIES OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7296, 12 February 1887, Page 2

SOME OF THE ABSURDITIES OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Please allow me to point out some of what I consider the many absurdities of our cumbrous and expensive education fad. Cumbrous, I say, because it has been proved so, and expensive because it does not give value for the unfortunate taxpayers' outlay. I thinkif anything ought to convince Sir R. Stout that this education fad won't prevent crime it is Hall'g case. Education only helped to develop the scoundrel. Would an uneducated man have been able to carry on the villianous system of poisoning that he has ? But I am digressing. Let us take one of many cases which my occupation in farm life has allowed me to notice. I have known a boy who is attending school to go through something like this —" John, get up and bring in the cows." John gets up and brings them in; he then has to turn to and milk them. Time is running on then, but John has to break the wood for the day before he can get to school. I say that living in the country I have known this to happen. Now, let us consider what position John'B hauds are in during an hour's milking, and then their position while breaking tho wood for tho day, and ask what we think of that boy having to learn free hand drawing, whether he has any gift or not, and pit}' the poor schoolmaster who has the worry of teaching him. And if John fails in his number of marks he is out of the Standard. This is one of the many ridiculous phases o£ what I am afraid Sir R. Stout will have something to answer for yet. —l am, &c , Ooa Education is Vexation.