THE KOKATAHI SCHOOLS.

West Coast Times, Issue 7194, 17 September 1888, Page 4

THE KOKATAHI SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor.)

It was not my intention to take any active part re school matter?, which are at present agitating this diattrict, but as an attack was made by Inspector Smith at the last board meeting on the teachers representing this district dur'ng the past few years, 1, as one of them, feel sure jou will make a few remarks anent my?eit, and in trying to correct his somewhat random assertions by a statement of actual facts which cannot be gaiosayed. In the first place be say* tbe Kokatahi schools have been opened ten years. The school register at the Lower Kokatahi will furniah evidence that It has not been opened more than eight years. Secondly, be say*, that owing to the inferiority of teachers tbe progress ia school wort only represents five years, or in other woids tbat naif tbe time haa been wasted. What are the fact ? I will confine mys-lf to tbe Upoer School : Daring the six yeara that I have been teacher the sc'.ual average attendance of the whole school up to to the date of the hst examination only represents three and three quarters of a year, and during that time the etardards passed are from the first to tbe fifth inclusive, whilst the average percentage of maiks in the last standard (fifth) is higher than that of any fohool in the district with the exception of three. Again, the I nspector's remarks during the whole period (with one exception) have never been unfavorable, but otherwise, as, " This ecbool is well oonducted, the writing of the whole school is above the average, although there are exceptions to' this." "This school is fairly satisfactory." "The school was being carried on in an orderly and quiet manner." " Tbe roll ia correctly and neatly kept." Thirdly, he siys even as half* time schools they would probably get the same rate of progress. The statement is absurd and simply impossible. The fact is the progress in school work has nothing whatever to do with the proposed change, neither ii it xetrenebment. Mr M'Wbirler'a remarks at tbe last meeting are simply a reflex of the Inspec* tor's, and are offensive and uncalled for. Let these gentlemen get someone to quote the lines beginning with "He who st'a's my purse steali trasb," &c, &c. I am, &Ci, LOBEKZO TINDALL. Upper Kokatahi, Sept. 14, 1888.