EDUCATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 10, 12 January 1871, Page 2

EDUCATION.

To tue Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir—Finding that both the Examiner and the Colonist in their report of the political meetings which took place at Wakapuaka last week have omitted my reasons why the Education saltern in this province so highly spokeo^or is rotten, I would feel obliged by VM^ 1 giving this room in your columns. Ijj^r several years past I have taken particular notice how far the children of thj-y district are reaping the advantages orthe present system of education, and am sorry to find that very few will be any tho wiser for the great outlay expended upon them.* On going through the district during the week, childreu are found either occupied in domestic work or playing about on the road side. In many families, children are sent once a week, and kept away three or four, even by parents living close to the school. It i*s not an unusual thing to hear complaints made against the masters that the children do not advance. Parents say "My children have been to school for the last five years, and they are not learning anything." But they quite forget to mention that, out of the five years, they have beeu kept at home two or three. How is it possible for any master to teach, or a child to take any interest iu learning under such circumstances. In one school the attendance has heen so small that it has been thought well to close it or put it in the hands of a schoolmistress, when the schoolmaster has

bcfeii obliged to go rouiid the district ami hdut up hid recruits, which for a short tim-** had tho desired effect, but has invariably sunk down to tho old level, aud even most of those who attend are taken away at the very time v/hen no more than the first rudiments of learning bave been im patted, aud the child is beginning to see the advantage of schooling, and giving its mind fully to stu'iy. Seeing that such has been the working of. the system here, it has caused me to make enquiries in other districts, and gentlemen who have had opportunities of judging deplore that no For remainder of News see Fourth page.