FOUNDATION STONES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 212, 10 September 1935, Page 6

FOUNDATION STONES

SMALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS (By •’The Brown Owl.”) The greatest need of the present day is to revert to the small private schools which were so popular many years ago, schools in. which, the fees were much lower than they are to-day. Untiring individual attention was given by so many women whose charm and personality, impressed upon the minds of their pupils, was something they never Jost. How necessary that precious quality of personality is. Small boys and girls should always be taught by a gentlewoman —one who can be firm, and kind, and who is a lover of truth. A woman whom the children themselves can trust; and whose word they never doubt. One whose word is her bond and who will mete out justice carefully and kindly. lu one of Rudyard Kipling’s short stories written about boys in a large coMege, a remark made by one of the boys to his father was that the “head master was a beast, but a just beast.” Writing.—How many of the boys of to-day can write legibly—“like father, like son.” Really good mental arithmetic—why, some boys I have met can hardly say their tables, boys who were hoping to be ready for college. It is ground work which counts. No good architect would dream of plan ning a house without giving due thought to the first essential—a good foundation. Children want more than books. Teaching by word —vivid de scriptions of countries, of noble men and women will impress the pliable minds of small boys and girls, and impressions last. Education at. the present time seems to be drifting. We do not want all our children to be alike. We want individuals, not “squads.” Where are our old slates and pencils. Why the senseless waste of good exercise books? Why, it should be a reward to be allowed to write in ink in an exercise book. Too many subjects arc taught. It is the capacity to take infinite pains which really counts. Genius is no use without the bulldog tenacity of the British race. Again I quote Rudyard Kipling: “Keep on keeping on.” It is the only way. Expensive outfits for sports make our school fees too high. Where are our leaders of men to-day? We do not always want to hunt for them on golf course ur bowling green.