THE BRIDGE-STREET SCHOOL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 206, 22 August 1876, Page 2

THE BRIDGE-STREET SCHOOL.

To the Editor of the 'Evening Mail.'

Sib, — Your correspondent " M," with regard to the Bridge street S:hool, perhaps expressed the right opinion that " as a change is pending, the matter might be allowed to rest," and the more so as I flud Mr Prioe has said he ia content it should reat where it is, having been dealt with by the Local Board This being thus, I withhold my view. But I think there is 'a far more eeriou? blow aioied at the interest of that school than any dispute between the teacher aad inspector can possibly be, by the motion of Mr Rout. I don't care whether it is, as many, perhaps moat, peop'e believe, a blow aimed at the present teac .er or not; I look at it from a public point of view , and from that can : only see a most serious injury to our public school system in the motion; and, moreo7er, the ground on whiea ie is submitted ia wrong in fact. It has long been felo by tbe teachers through the province, and acknowledged by the public, and I believe by none more folly than by the Central Board, that the teachers in Nelson have always been underpaid. This fact has compelled the town teacners to give their spare time to some other employment, such as keeping tradesmen's books, &c, and those of the country to farming or storekeeping; the result has been that the men who were competent to take good positions elsewhere, have sought them, and gone; and those who were not have had to stay. Of the low standard of educational attainment! among them we had proof when there wa* a vacancy for Bridge-street, as not one was found who could pats the examination required. And are the men to blame? I think not. t There has been no incentive to induce teachers to study held out in our midst; hence the result. Now, if Mr Rout h*s the interest! of education at heart, he will level upwards not downwards; instead of reducing that, raite the others, and place them on an equal footing in that way. But then as I understand it, he is wrong ia his reason for reducing the salary at thia school; it is because Latin, &c, are not row taught but they never were taught before the present year. Mr Smith did not, and could not teach them; the way they began to be tatight was that wishing to learn Latin himself he began to teach a fe»" of the boys; then Mr tiunley proposed teaching Euclid when he was appointed; and so it was agreed that these subjects should be taught, and the teacher had to pass an examination in those extra subjects. For some reason, the Committee has decided to discontinue them and against that, I. a 8 an i n< ilvidual, wish to protest. Now when for the first lime we have a man who can teach those subjects why should they not be taught? They are taught in the public schools of Canterbury and Otago, and I believe in the other provinces; why not in Kelson, which boasts so much of its school system? There are many parents in the town who would like to see their children taught these subjects, but who cannot afford to send them to the Co'lege or the Bishop's school, and why ohould not our boyi have the same advantage as the boys in other parts of New Zealand? I would make ' fh:s proposal; that the first division of Bridge-street school be made in reality an upper division lor all the schools. L°t a cer tain standard be fixed upon for admission to it,andthen let boys who attain to thia be dratted to that division, where they might be carried on to higher subjects including especially practical geometry; as many of the lads will be artisans of some kind it will be of the highest advantage to them. I hope the Central Board will not be iound to give any countenance to Mr Rout's motion; but will devote fair consideration to my nronoqai' which I know will be gratifying ? 0 Ta n y personß.— l am, &c, y E. F. T.