THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1518, 14 August 1912, Page 5

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.

Sir,—'There .'appeared in your columns oil Wednesday morning' two letters concorning Iho Education Commission and matters brought before it—namely, lettersby "Anti-.Slummicky. Spelling" and "A Woman's 'l'oint of View." Were it not that readers might take seriously the rubbish contained in these letters, 1 would not transgress on yonr valuable Space. Let us take "Anti-Slummieky" lirst. nnd let. me say,.it the outset tint. I hold no brief-for the Education Depart-, incut or Jlr. Hogben,' the InsfoctorGeneral of- Schools., "Anti-Slummicky" apparently objects to the presence of a representative of the Department at the sittings of tlio Commission. To my mind, such is absolutely necessary—so nccr.-:sary. that without the Department being heard; in defence or explanation, the truth cl contentious matters would never be ascertained.' If."Anti-Sluuimicky" displays his ignorance of the true position ill regard to the "astonishing increase",in the cast of administration, ho makes a laughing stock of himself in expressing the opinion lie does on-phonetic spelling. If he took the trouble to bcconie acquainted with .the widespread movement throughout America in favour of phonctic spell-: ing and the growing sympathy towards the reform in England, he . would not foist on an ignorant public such empty nonsense.' • • • • The second letter, on "mixed schools," from "A Woman's joint of View": Halfacquaiiitance with a subject is a dangerous thing:, and the writer lias tripped , badly iii expressing nil opinion at least "ten years'behind the times. For her information, I might state that regarding mixed schools,- 'American opinion is unanimously in favour,'while expert opinion in England inclines to follow the American conclusion.: It is really, however, a waste of time attempting to' coyibat such obviously crudc opinions, and in this regard it causes astonishment to sec the opinions expressed (and .actually termed "expert" evidence in some newspapers) before the Education Commission. To one of forty years' educational expe.rienco in various countries, it is beyond comprehension that teachers and inspectors of a few years'' standing, doctors and solicitors should venture to give an expert opinion on a subject requiring a lifetime of varied study. "System testing" is a good thing, but I am convinced that tlio only finding for a Commission that knows its subject up. to date will bo that this Dominion is progressing along the thorough- . ly sound educational lines of the best Old World systems. With tho officers of the Department I do not'always agree, but 1 am inclined, with a prominent member ol tlio new Government holding a high jio.=iticwi, to treat their opinion with the highest respect. That is moro than I can dc in regard to the crudely set forth by most of the witnesses alleging expert knowledge beforo the recent Commission, —I am, ctc., ANTI-HUMBUG. July. 21.