Tuapeka Times AND BOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1886. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1218, 30 January 1886, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND BOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1886. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

There is a growing feeling in many parts of this district againsb the system of giving prizes at the end of the schoolyear to those children who haye v Harriett ' the greatest number of marks during the course of the year ; and, in. the face of the dissatisfaction and general round of jealousy usually engendered at schools prize-distributions, there are some good reasons for the opinion that the prizes often do as much harm as good. So pronounced has this feeling become in, some of the school districts that the Committees have decided to give the children a picnic treat instead of the usual prizes. It is only in rare cases that the parents can be persuaded to see it in the light of fair reason that their children are any less deserving of prizes than those who have won them ; and, in most cases from the representations made to them by their own children, they believe themselves to be in the right. No matter in what way the prizes are given, there will always be jealousy of this kind ; and so it is that both teachers and Committee are inclining to the opinion that, for the peace and harmony of the community, school prizes should be abolished. We feel satisfied that, notwithstanding the bickerings and petty jealousies called forth, school prizes should be given. Unless there is some reward held out to view in the foreground of a closing year's labor, school work will, in most cases, degenerate into a species of drudgery ; for there are only a very few lads and lasses who will love knowledge for its own sake, and who will pursue their studies with a single eye to the future benefit which such knowledge will confer. Therefore, we hold to the opinion that prizes should be given as a stimulus to work and as a reward for work done. It is well known that by multiplying the prizes at shows the proportion of exhibits is largely increased 5 but at the same time the distribution of prizes must not be spread over too wide a field, else the quality of the exhibits will at onw? be lowered. The same objection holds in the too liberal distribution of school prizes. If prizes are to be given at all, they should be rewards for industry, and not merely gift books to those who have been good boys and girls. Still, when the difference between a first and a second prize is only a mark or two over a year's work, it is not an easy thing to award the prize on its merits. By increasing the number of prizes in each class fairer chances are given to those who do their work well ; but if three prizes are given in any class it soon becomes apparent who are on the fair way to win these prizes, and the rest then lose interest in the contest and purposely lapse into indifference. If it is intended to give a general stimulus to work in the school, some other system must be devised. It. is the custom of some schools to give nice, printed certificates instead of the usual book prizes ; and we think the system has much to commend it. The only real value of a prize-book consists in the entry on the fly-leaf; and it would be evidently better to have such an entry on a nice certificate, for this could be carried about by a boy, and would be a very good credential on seeking employment anywhere. By giving certificates to all those who gain a certain percentage of marks, the competition would then be pretty general, and not confined to one or two individuals in the class. We believe in giving a dux medal, and those who win this should understand that the medal is a valuable testimonial of scholarship, even if gained in a small country school. But, at the same time, we feel satisfied that if a certificate system such as we have indicated were introduced into the schools, it would do much to allay the feelings of unpleasantness arising from the present system of giving prizes, and do much to encourage industry and harmony in the school. A number of nicely got-up certificates of the first, second, and third class, sufiicient to give certificates to all who gain more than 50 per cent, of marks, would cost less than the prizes usually given do, and if the various schools in the district could arrange a general certificate the cost would be trifling. We merely throw out these remarks by way of suggestion, and we deem them well worthy of consideration by those who have the cause of education at heart.