THE PETITION FOR A SIDE SCHOOL AT TREVORTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 795, 17 November 1882, Page 2

THE PETITION FOR A SIDE SCHOOL AT TREVORTON.

To the Editor, Sir, —With reference to the petition presented to the School Committee on Tuesday evening last re side school, I beg to be allowed to say a few words concerning the last sentence, as it more nearly refers to myself, viz., “the children arrive at the school tired and quite unfit for their duties, and a large portion of both the masters’ and children’s time is wasted in consequence..” Now, what docs the writer mean by this ? I really cannot tell. But I do know that he has made a statement thatin alljustice and honor he had no right to make, seeing that he knows nothing whatever about it. It was hardly justice to either the children or their teachers to make such a misleading statement, and then ask. the parents to append their names to it. Now-as regards any lassitude or weariness of the children interfering with the duties of the school, I have never been able to detect any waste of time in consequence, and if the writer of the petition has found that the children and teachers hive worked with less energy on account of walking a short distance to school, it is altogether contrary to my experience. There is one thing lam quite certain of, and that is, it is not always those who live nearest the school who are the most regular in attendance. There is a private record kept, as most of the pupils know, of every minute that, a child is late, and it is a remarkable fact, that those who are noted for trying to shirk part of their school time generally live within an easy distance of the school. I say trying, as I would not be fitted for the position which I hold if I allowed anything whatever to interfere with the regular school duties. It is only justice to the children attending the school and their parents to say that, with very few exceptions, the submission to school discipline and punctual attendance at the proper time give me perfect satisfaction, and I still hold the opinion that I entertained when 1 first came here, that the Ashburton boys and girls, too, are quite as easily governed as those of any tpjrns. in the colony. I quite agree with the Chairman of the School Committee that the writer of the petition knew nothing of what he was saying, and therefore had no right to say what he did.—l am, etc,,..-. Hector Dempsey. Ashburton, Nov. 15.