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Evening Star, Issue 4303, 11 December 1876, Page 2

An impression is abroad that the District Schools of Dunedin will not have prizes distributed as customary at this season of the year, No doubt this idea has been caused by the extraordinary decision of the Education Board in regard to the Schools. That decision was arrived at in consequence of the jeslousy of the country members of the Board, notwithstanding the fact that their appointment is a recognition that the High Schools are not merely Dunedin institutions, but were intended to confer high educational privileges upon the whole of Otago aud Southland. The narrowing influence of Provincialism is well illustrated by the decision at the last meeting of the Education Boaid, There were present two country and two City members. One country member is connected with Invercargill, the other with—Heaven knows where—some bleak and barren land where fat bullocks, heavy fleeces, and juicy mutton are the prizes competed for. The town members, having children at the school, refrained from voting, lest the public should accuse them of partial motives. We appreciate the delicacy of feeling of those members, although on such a point we think its indulgence a mistake. Had their own families been exclusively interested they would have been right; but they were acting for others as well, and however distasteful even the appearance of nepotism might be to them, it was the penalty due to their position, and should not have deterred them from fulfilling an obvious duty. Had they voted according to their expressed convictions, the casting vote of the Chairman would have been in favor of the usual appropriation for prizes. It might have been expected that the gentlemanly forbearance shewn by those gentlemen would have evoked equal delicacy of conduct on the part of the other members of the Beard, Miserable delusion ! . Bullocks and Provincialism are bad educators of the sentiments aud seldom develop gentlemen. One for unexplained reasons probably some narrow village prejudice—voted against the proposal ; the other, in a mercenary spirit, waded to drive a bargain. His argument reduced to something like form, was—“lt is quite right to give the prizes. I have no objection to that, and I shall vote for their being given, provided that some school in Invercargill has a vote also.” If it was right to award prizes to both, it was right for the Dunedin Schools to have them whether Invercargill got the vote or not. We have no sympathy with such “ dog in the mahger” policy, and rejoice that our District Schools, at least, are free from such petty influences. They will give the prizes as usual, while the High School boys and girls must be considered virtually swindled out of their reasonable expectations. Had they been informed at the beginning of the year that no prizes would be given, there would have been no injustice ; but many have bevu induced to extra exertion through the hope of achieving some mark of distinction ; "and we know of nothing so calculated to repress laudable effort as to find that rewards are in the power of those whose sense of honor is so weak as to render them capable of sanctioning so reprehensible a public meanness as breaking an implied contirat with children.