OF SPECIAL INTEREST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 18 (Supplement)

OF SPECIAL INTEREST.

Dear Children of New Zealand.—Such of you as have not read the description of the girls of India in “ Aunt Hilda’s ” page of September 28 may : wonder who I am, having such a long arm to reach you, the dwellers of one of the most beautiful spots of the world. Well, to be brief, I am a school master of a boys’ high school in India. My daily business is to be with the boys at least for eight hours a day. From the beginning of my educational career I have attached comparatively less importance to the mere coaching of the boys for examinations than for the building up of character in the future citizens of my country. With this view I do not mind spending a few hours almost every day during which time the boys will be drawn to a lively discussion regarding the life and achievement of some great man, or the different aspects of virtue in him. Well, a few days back I had occasion to explain the meaning of the word “awe.” I am sure you are all familiar with this word, and need not say more than that the word implies a mixed feeling of fear and wonder. It is only in this sense the word is used by modern writers. I explained to the boys, for example, that a lion in the zoo is “ awful,” but in the forest it is 41 fearful.” Now I asked my boys to give some more examples of “ awful ” nature. Up stood a boy and, without any hesitation, told me that a school master is the nearest 44 awful ” example! It was only then I felt what a sad failure I was as a teacher! Since then I have spent many hours in making them understand that so long as the link between the teacher and the taught is one of fear, there can never be a lasting relation between them. Surely whatever you learn from your masters at the tip of the birch rod you learn only to forget at the earliest moment. An obedience which is based on fear is, I assure you, the worst type of slavery in thick disguise. Is it a matter of wonder for you to see how much you have learnt from your loving father and mother? Then what is it that is responsible for many children who become stunted during their school days? Again, it is due to their vain attempt to learn under fear. Therefore, dear children, my message to you is 44 Cast off fear.” Let the space be filled up by love. Then you are sure to bring credit to your school days a- 1 to your school masters. With my best wishes to you, I am—Your distant uncle A. K. K. NIGHT. Night creeps like a-shadow o’er the land, Night steals like a dark and creeping hand. Night falls —a curtain of velvet dark; Studded with jewels that glitter and spark. So changed is the world that lies below, All soothed in a calm and gentle glow. Sent in by:— Gladys Levy, New Brighton. SHORT MEASURE. A small local milkman was proudly talking of his sales. 44 Twenty gallons a day,” he said. 44 I can tell you how to increase the figure to twenty-five.” said one rather bored listener. 44 How ” asked the milkman. 44 Fill the bottles,’ was the reply.