SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 875, 27 April 1903, Page 2

SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATIONS.

(To the Editor Gisborne Times.)

Sir, In looking over a recent issue of your paper I was rather disappointed to find the headmaster of our schooL>had decided to confine the work to a bare sixth standard pass, on the grounds that training pupils for a scholarship examination could only be done at the expense of the rest of the school. Well Sir, Mr Rowley may bo right, but if we look back a few years when the staff was not so large as it is now, we find that with a class in training for the scholarship examination the school was most efficient from the infant room up to and including the

sixth standard, and what a thrill of flride pervaded the whole community when the resuit of the examination was made known, and it was found that Gisborne year after year obtained the lion’s share of the scholarships as against Hawke's bay-, and we never heard that this good work was accomplished at the expense of the' rest of the school. Wo have always looked at the scholarship examination as a sort of comparative test of the work done, and

it was done as much for the honor of tbo school as for the sake of the few shillings the pupil would get after paying fees. ' I was in hopes that with the excellent staff we have that not alone would we have a big try for the Education Board scholarships, but that we would also have a go for the Victoria Coliego scholarships, but if the making the classes free will have the effect of doing away with competition, I for one will regret having done anything to bring about free classes in Gisborne. I hope this matter will be discussed at the meeting of householders on Monday (at which I am sorry I cannot be present), and that the result will be that Mr Kowiey may be induced to alter his mind and continue on the iines tbpt have been so successful in the past in Gts* borne. —I am, etc..

W. Morgan, Christchurch, April 22, 1903.