SCHOOL PRIZES.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1132, 31 December 1883, Page 2

SCHOOL PRIZES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — A casus belli has arisen among the school children and parents, from the apparent partial manner in which the prizes were distributed this morning, as some of the children were to be seen walking away with two and three prizes each, while others of the children, no doubt as well and perhaps better deserving had none. T« my mind it seems that the learned teachers are not aware of the harm underlying the carelessness of not carefully into and giving th<* prizes to the best deserving, because if the matter of distributing prizes, independent of the child’s genealogy, is not worth the serious attention of the teachers, better far, for the harmony and good-feeling of parents and teachers that they (the parents) were not again asked to subscribe to a soiree to raise funds for prizes, which, after all, only tend to deceive the children and wound their sensitive minds. Pro Bono Publico.

Patea, Dec. 21. [We have withheld publication of this letter until we could ascertain the method upon which the prizes were distributed. Prizes are awaided according to the number of marks gained in examination by the Inspector. The head master also awards marks during the term and we are assured that in every case those who had the highest "marks for - the —term —edso--received the greatest number from the Inspector. There is no such thing as favouritism in awarding the prizes ; they are given according to results. Of course, in the Infants’ room it is impossible to gnage the children by Standards and the mistress has to use her discretion in recommending her pupils for prizes.— Ed.]