GREYMOUTH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 17 December 1897, Page 20

GREYMOUTH

(From an occasional correspondent.) As was anticipated, the Government Inspector's report on the convent schools at Brunncrton and Greymouth were highly nattering. At the Brunner schools out of (il pupils presented there were four failures ; while at Greymouth of 141 pupils presented only six failed. The Brunner percentage is inleed most creditable. Few outside the district realise the labour involved in securing &uch results. The nuns travel from Greymouth to Brunner and back daily in all weathers — journeys alone in this climate trying- even to the most robust. The Greymouth Convent School is of course " the premier school " of the district. Probably the nuns have a tried system of their own that enables them to gain such marvellous results in all examinations, yet no doubt the secret of their success lies in one word. " work." The pood nuns are untiring workers. They do not relax in their efforts immediately the examinations are over, nor awaken to the fact a few weeks before the time of examination arrives that the inspector will noon be -,vith them. Neither have they to cram the requisite knowledge into the minds of the children a week prior to the examination. No : the interest of the nuns is as keen now as on the morning of the examinat'on. This, no doubt, is the secret of the success of the nuns as teacher*. 'Tis wonderful how the children appreciate the efforts, and try to cooperate with teachers who work. As for parents, well, few have had the education that teachers receive ; but, for all that, Catholic parents are pretty shrewd judges a- c. how their children are progressing at school and of the eflorts made by teachers. Bitter experience has taught many Catholic parents how necessary it is that their children should be educated. Hume their determination that their offsprings shall not bp as backward in this important matter as themselves. If education be important tor our irirK howmuch more so is knowledge required for our boys, who ha\e ro leave home and battle in the world against highly educated yoiilh- with all sorts of worldly influences at their b icks. that a duholic youth altogether lacks / In fact, for a Catholic young man to get on, lie must be the superior of his iellows in a knowledge of his business and in education. He, at least, will l.ot be favotued.