Marlborough Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1880.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 16 March 1880, Page 2

Marlborough Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1880.

At a meeting of the School Teachers’ Association held last Saturday questions of public interest were discussed. It is notorious that the teachers of Marlborough are underpaid, and it is admitted that they deserve great credit for the patience with which they perform their onerous and important duties under the circumstances in which they are placed. While the Grey Ministry was in power Mr Seymour brought the subject before the then Minister of Education, the Hon. Mr Ballance, who admitted the claims of the teachers hut refused all assistance. We are informed that Mr Seymour is now urging the matter on the Government with every prospect of success. The statu* at which pupils are to be admitted into the High school which formed the subject matter of some discussion at the meeting, is also an important subject and is receiving the attention of the Blenheim School Committee. If, as the teachers think, the Standard is so low as to endanger the efficiency of the countr schools, their suggestion, which will b found in our report of the proceedings, is a very rational one, and we have every reason to believe that the School Committee will accede to the request made. From a public point of view the implied condemnation of the Standards is the most important one touched upon. If teachers of long experience and admitted ability condemn the system under which they are compelled to instruct the rising generation-, it behoves every parent to give the matter serious consideration. Beyond all doubt the teachers themselves should be the best judges of the matter. Although the whole question of the Standard syllabus was postponed to a future meeting, enough transpired to demonstrate the general feeling that instruction under the present regulations would be necessarily of a “ slip-shod ” character, and would bear but little resemblance to real education. If, on due reflection, and after a few months more trial, this opinion is confirmed, the Education Department will have to make some considerable alterations in their scheme. We are informed that the most experienced teachers in the Colony are arriving at the same conclusion as regards the Standards as that which was elicited at the meeting of the Association here on Saturday.