THE SOHOLABSHIP QUESTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3315, 13 May 1885, Page 3

THE SOHOLABSHIP QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMAKU HER AID. Sib, — I notice m your paper of yesterday, a letter signed "A. L. Halkett-Dawson." I presume this is Mr Dawaon, Hector of the Timaru High School. I think it may be fairly inferred from all the circumstances, that Mr Dawson had a principal hand m the "ABO" resolutions proposed at last meeting of th« Board - of Education, and that he now comes to the front to defend his handiwork. I regret that a man holding Mr Dawson's responsible position to the public, should hare tried to support his case by mud-throw-ing, and designating, the statements of -the Bey. Mr Barclay as " unscrupulous " and " garbled," and hia views as "obscurantist "(a word, I suppose, only found m Dawson's dictionary), " shortsighted " and "feeble." Mr Dawson must have a very imperfect notion of the high estimation m which the Rev. Mr Barclay is held as a public man, and as one who has been a prominent leader, showing enterprise, boldness, and: good judgment m the cause of education. Mr Dawson will only injure himself, and not Mr Barclay, by such correspondence. _ With reference to the scholarship question, the main points seem to be that the 51st section of the Act stipulates that holders of scholarships must attend some school, under the control of the Board, at which the higher branches of education are taught ; but if there be no such school m the district, then at such- school, subject' to inspection by a public Inspector, as the Board may approve of. I suppose the Bey. Mr Barclay's argument is that the Board mutt

comply with the Aofc/and that holders of scholarships resident m the Waimate and ■ Temuka districts must attend the District High Schools there ; and that m the case of . Timaru, it is for the Board to cay whether they approve of the Timaru High School (which is not under their control), public inspection being indisponsable. Mr Dawson says the section of tho Act points clearly to the Timaru High Sohool. This is too absurd, ( and " unscrupulous " is perhaps a mild word to apply to it. Mr Dawson further says that the Timaru - High School is by Act subject to inspection by the Inspector General ; but how often has £ the school been so inspected since its commencement ? what has been the nature of the inspections, and if they have been regular and thorough, why was it considered necessary to appoint outside paid examiners to report upon the school P Mr Daweon throws down the gauntlet to the struggling, poorly-paid and poorly-officered District High Schools, of the matriculation passes of his comparatively well-paid, woll officered and full blown High School. Ido not wish to depreciate tho morits of tho matriculation passes of a few crack scholars, coached and pushed on to success, but surely - the merits of the Timaru School have been sufficiently lauded and advertised on that score. Tho higher and truer teßt of efficiency must be the general progross and working of the whole school. Apologising for taking up so much of your I valuable space, I am, &c, 3 Fair Plat. <