"OUR SOHOOL SYSTEM."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1739, 19 December 1887, Page 3

"OUR SOHOOL SYSTEM."

TO THK EDITOK. Sir, — Under the abovo heading a scurrilous letter appeared In your Issue of the 16th from tbe pen of Mr B. Hughes. The letter ia a vicious exposition of oar National School System, and not likely to carry muoh force with it, The heading is ill adapted to the offensive remarks which follow, and Is bat poor I thanks or reoomponaa to the parents of the childron Attending tho EUmpstead I School, which he has unduly villifiad. X alludo to the excellent services many of the ohlldren'd parents rendered to Mr Haghea on Sandny night, during tho burning of his hoaso. The pablia Is aware that a fira broke oat mysteriously on his premises on that night, and the first on the soene were many of the parents and, with them some of the " young savages," all working heartily to save hie property and effects. He h«s made no allusion to the ecortching of hta trees and plants, for m considerable distance around by the Intense heat which prevailed daring the whole of the night, or to the trampliog of the people, bat charges the whole to the " mob of young savages," attending the Hampitead School. He says, "It is notorlons that a public school Is a thorough nuisance ; In its neighborhood." I believe I am expressing the opinion of all the residents of Harapstead, when I Msort that sach Ii not the case here. The echool Is oonduoted m a Btyle, most creditable to the master and teachers alike, and gratifying to the parents of the children attending it, as veiy few (it any) complaints were ever made against them before. Instead of being a "plague/ 1 the l< youngiters " are equally well behaved out of sohool, and wonld compare favorably witn other schools, denominational or otherwise. Mr Hughes is apparently a firm believer In the denominational system of teaching, and suggests If " well meaning men " who " talk about reading the Bible m Schools" would " lay aside their stupid bigotry and join their Oathollo fellow Christians m tbelr just demands they would soon have schools where moral teaohing would supplement tho larrikin-creating education which we now have." In this oase his opinion has very little weight, as tome children from a certain denominational sohool, were with those who " invaded " hi* garden. One Incident of the tire deserves publicity, it will probably show that there are " savages " of a larger growth amongst us. As soon as tho goods saved from the fire were oarriod by kind hands to a shed m the rear, and the destruction of his house Inevitable, instead of lending a helping hand to save toy ad j jlnlng aad uninsured property and effects, Mr Hughes calmly retired to the shed sud rolled hitmolf m his blankets till morning. If this be " moral teaching " by a " Catholic fellow Christian " I think " oar eohool system " Is preferable to it, and let us hope there will be no sach trouble m Hampstead again, I am, etc,, W. W. Smith.

TO TBE EDITOR, Fir.— l noticed a letter by Mr B. Hashes In the " Guardian " on Thursday evening e causing tho little children of the Hsmpstead School of robbing and destroying his garden. His letter Is not correct In abusing the Hampstead Sohool children alone, bb children from another sohool assisted m the ".Invasion," snd even adults— strangers to the districtwere known to try the quality of the gooseberries, I think, Sir, if Mr Hughee were bleesed with ohlldren himsulf he would be more long-suffering and avoid using so oh vile epithets to little children belocgbg to a publio school. I am, etc, M. A. F.