SCHOOL REQUISITES.

Kumara Times, Issue 1485, 1 July 1881, Page 2

SCHOOL REQUISITES.

[to the editor.] Sir—ln your Wednesday’s issue appears an epistle signed “Lance.” I do not say the letter was coarse ; I will not even hint that it was vulgar. I have no intention of replying to personal abuse. Shakespeare says : “ The raving of an acknowledged fool is no slander Though he do nothing but rail. ” Passing, therefore, then little pleasantries, I will proceed, “Lance” says, “ Were I a head-teacher to-morrow I would make,” etc. Alas ! the vain hope. “ Lance,” ever a pupil teacher 1 imagine such a contingency ! “ Lance” asserts that the committee can recover by summary proceedings the poll-tax demanded for school requisites.' This, however, is a misapprehension. If children are supplied with books, they can, unless they plead poverty, be required to pay for same. They need not, however, buy their books from tibe committee, or master, unless they’ please. But, sir, there is a vast difference between this charge, and the imposition made under the garb of “ School requisites.” In the latter case, a weekly or monthly charge is made, ostensibly for ink and slate pencils ; but, in reality, for committee’s expenses, for the actual cost of ink and pencils does

trot ataount to a tithe of the revenue, thus sought to be illegally obtained; besides, the Emuara Committee is now Supplied with such materials free, and the plea is thus all the more unsatisfactory. Let “Lance” honestly say whether the action of the Kuraara Committee in thus pressing an illegal ‘demand is right; let him say if the .placing of a number of children in a prominent part of the school, and branding them as defaulters, was generous, was manly, was “ English”; and lot him say if the arbitrary action taken by the Committee and the illfeeling thereby engendered is likely to help the cause of free, secular education ! Let him consider these points, nod he will readily admit that be put his pen to paper foolishly and in anger.—Yours, &c., J oseph Petrie.