OUR STATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5838, 15 December 1879, Page 3

OUR STATE SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —In your issue of to-day, “ A Parent ” gives us the benefit of his views in regard to the manner in which a certain school is conducted. With your permission, I will give another instance. My son goes to one of the schools, and at the last examination was promoted into a higher class. On his return home after the examination, he was delighted with what he had heard, but felt sorrow for a little friend who had been ignominiously plucked. Judge of his (and my) surprise a few days after to find the little friend, notwithstanding the plucking, was placed in the higher class for which he t.ied to pass his examination. On my sun telling me who the little friend was, I could veil understand the reason ; because I know that iu this case (as iu others connected with the same party) “ kissing goes by favor.” The little friend himself was rather astonished that he had been promoted for not passing the examination. Again, at the same school, my son has tried his very utmost to work up his lessons, never beiug absent a day, going to school through howling gales of wind and rain, often against ray wishes, in the hopes of getting well up for a prize at Christmas. After continuing this for some months he began to slacken off ; he did not show that excessive desire to go away early, &c., &c., &c. On inquiring the reason X ascertained that at his school no marks had been given for this half-year, whilst at the Mount Cook and the other school the marks had been given as formerly. It is certainly not the way to encourage lads to persevere in their lessons and attendance to find that their friends in other schools are getting marks, with a view to a distribution of prizes, whilst at the school X have hitherto required him to attend they are not getting any at all, and no prospect of prizes. It is not so much the intrinsic value of a prize that a boy looks to, but the fact that he is unable to secure one in the contest. I shall remove my. boy after Christmas.—l am, &c., Parent. Wellington, Dec. 9.