HIGHER EDUCATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 264, 28 January 1879, Page 2

HIGHER EDUCATION.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sib, —I hope I shall not be deemed guilty of high treason if I venture to bring under the notice of residents in Akaroa and itß neighborhood,. that there are several. points in which they might very largely benefit theii district, if they would only wake up a little, and bestir themselves. On this occasion I will confine myself to one want, which, I am sure, must be seriously felt, viz, that of a school capable of giving a superior class of education."

\ High Schools are being established _ in Various parts of the Canterbury District, and I think I shall 1 be able to shew that the Peninsula has especial claims to be considered, from the fact that childrencannot be sent to the superior schools in Christchurch by rail, as is very largely done on the Plains. On the South and Malvern lines, with which I am best acquaintod.boys and girls are sent in daily from as. far as South Rakaia, on the. Southern line,' and Kirwee on the Malvern line. Surely it is worth while trying if

We cannot induce the Board of Education >to consider our exceptional position in this respect . I believe -that a high school would be very fairly supported, and I am sure it would do a large amount of good, not only to Akaroa, but also to the whole district, as there must be many settlers in the bays who would -like to give their children n better education than they can do under existing circumstances. It may be urged that if a school of this sort is needed, it should be a private one. But Sir, I am a great believer in Government schools, with, their periodical examinations, and as a rule sound, English education, the great fault of nearly all private schools being that they will attempt too much, and turn boys out with a smattering of many things, but quite , incapable of writing a decent letter in their own language. V; I hope I shall hot be understood to in any way reflect in what I have written on J:he*Mkster of the Akaroa School. On all hands 1 hear that he is a good painstaking teacher, but overworked, and with not nearly enough teaching power under him. Hoping that now I have brought the subject forward, others will take it up, and that what is best to be done may be freely discussed, and in the end some good may result.—l am, Sir, yours faithfully, WILLIAM B. TOSSWILL.