THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Southland Times, Issue 1819, 18 November 1873, Page 3

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

(to the editor of the tjmes ) SIH, — Allow me to call attention, through the medium of your colu nn», to the exceedingly unsatisfactory state of the public provision for education in Invereargill. The failure of the Grammar School, up to the present time, to meet the educational wants of the town, is a rtm'ter of public notoriety, and forms a common topic of conversation. I fear there is too much foundation in fact for the commonly received opinion that the school is in a most inefficient state, and that the progress of the pupils, especially in the more advanced classes, has hitherto been far from satisfactory. Should this be denied, the matter can be very easily settled by an examination conducted by competent and impartial authorities. If the result, of such an examination should be to show that the school is efficient, and that the progress of the pupils in the various branches professedly taught in the school has been solid and accurate, so far as it goes, I for one, and many others, will be most agreeably and most unexpectedly surprised. If however this simple test is declined, the public will be warranted in believing that the school has been, up to tho present time, fairly described as a failure. I have no doubt that this plain speaking will cause cff nee in certain quarters. But it seems to me better that an evil so serious should be publicly discussed, with a view to its possible removal, fcl3a.ll rlia-t it; sij-ioul<i fc»© ignore! bt-cuus^ the discussion is unpleasant-. And here I wish to say in the most emphatic manner that I by no means impute the slightest blame to the teachers now employed in the Grammar School. I have every reason to believe that the ttachers are without exception thoroughly competent, and at the same time energetic and industrious. But they cannot accomplish impossibilities. Nor do I think that any blame can fairly be attributed to the Committee. Though it is true that little interest was taken in their election, it is not less true that it would be difficult to name nine gentlemen in the town more active, intelligent, and conscientious, than the nine who now compose the Invercargill School Committee. Neither does it seem to me that the evils of which I complain can be assigned to the loss which the school has sustained in the lamented death of the late rector. Mr Fleming. Had he been spared to continue his supervision of the school, it is possible that his exertions might have to some extent mitigated the evils of which I complain. But I do not believe that any rector, whatever his ability, could possibly produce a satisfactory result under the present arrangements. It is of course much easier to point out an evil than to propose a remedy. I would, however, suggest to the Committee that the present unsatisfactory state of the school is attributable more perhaps to the crowding together in the same institution of a large number of children in every stage of progress, from the alphabet to advanced classics and mathematics, than ta any other single cause. Classification is thus rendered impossible, and the teaching power which might suffice for the thorough instruction of smaller numbers, in classes consisting of pupi's all at similar stages of advancement, is thus thrown away altogether. The remedy for this is simple enough, the establishment namely of elementary side schools for beginners, and tho restriction of the Grammar School to pupils of say over ten years of age, who had already acquired the elements of an English education. Another hindrance to progress, in my opinion, ii the teaching »f boys and girls together in the '

advanced classes. The remedy for this is of course the establishment of a girls' school. I attach great importance to this, but will not now occupy your space by entering into argument on the matter. The Committee do not hold their meetings in public, and I have no knowledge as to whether any of the members may or may not entertain similar opinions to my own. The sti' ject is o-ie of great importance, and the present seems a suitable time for if* discussion, as the office of head master is still v cant, and the matter has not now that personal aspect which it almost necessarily assumes as soon as that appointment lias been nia-le. The money difficuHy; which will doubtless be urged as a serious obstacle to any change in the present system, may be disposed of for the present by saying that if the changes above proposed, or any others, are really necessary, they ou^ht fo made, whether they cost money or not. Efficient education is not a luxury, which we may dispense with if we grudge the price. It is fin in.li-MiensaMe necessary of our social esiJteMcc, wliici w« must have, even if it costs mo'iej. Jiur in tuid, ;»* in other matters, " where ih tl' is a will there i-* a way." While it may fairly ne lull that the Sate should provide a free elementary education for all who cannot afford to pay school ices, the case is obviously different with the higher branches of Btudy, usually supposed to f Tin the subjects of instruction in a Grammar School. There seems no re.ison why, in a prosperous community like lnvevenrgill, such an institution should not be absolutely sel l ' supporting. But it must be remembered that the existence of the public Grammar School, even in its present state, effectually burs the way to the establishment of another by private enterprise — I am, &c, John R. Cuthbeetson. Invercargill, 15th Nov.. 1873.