ALEXANDRA SCHOOL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 757, 20 October 1876, Page 3

ALEXANDRA SCHOOL.

(TO THp EDITOR OF THE DITHS’JJAN' TIMES.) Sib.- Until tho present Master came our mother used to write to the papers, and make public tho faults that she found with the teaching of ns scholars; * st>, being anxious that our parents should be ma''e ,:ftwaro of how wo are getting'on, I write y»u this letter.

Our parents are nearly all finding fault with the progress we are making with our studies, saying that we are not nearly so far .advanced as we were in Mr Rico's, or oven in Mr Reid’s time. Mr Oouhling has introduced a new system of teaching, and books like those used in Viotoiia ; but we got on much better with tho former teachers and books. It is greatly talked of among the scholars, the favor shown by the master to some of the scholars, and especially to some of them whoso fathers are members of tho School Committee ; so we think that the reason why the mother is not looking after the school better is because the master is 1 keeping intimate with her, and taking care rot to fall out with papa. Our new master has now had a good trial of hla new Victorian style of and has been supplied witn new desks and everything he required ; but so far he has given satisfaction only to a few. We had a good day’s fun last Saturday when we played a cricket match with the Clyde boys. Wo beat them by five runs only, and shall have to keep up our practice or,wo shall be beaten in tho return match. We are sorry that oar master did not go with us to Clyde to see how we played. I notice that one of the members of our School Committee is to give hj, lecture at Tinkers, part of the subject being “ half an hour with some of the best authors.” Could 'be not be induced to give us boys a lecture on the same subject; for many a pleasant half-hour our mother has spent with the best authors whilst sitting beside her washtub.

1 almost forgot to tell you of a great bit of fun we boys had with a wire fence Mr Chappie got. the Committee to erect through the School grounds, to separate the boys from tne girls. We boys did not believe in it, so broke down the wire and did away With the fence. I will give an instance of the new kind of teaching introduced : A family of three ( oach take home the same exercise in arithmetic, and having all to. do the same sum, our parents examine the one done by the eldest, and the others copy it, and they are taken to school next morning, when the master marks some It and some W, which surprises our parents, as on examination th£y find them correctly copied. Several of our parents are talking of taking their children from school as they object to pay for schooling when we are wasting our time and learning nothing.—l am,‘&c., Ax Alexandra.Boy.