OUR LETTER BOX

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 131, 7 June 1904, Page 2

OUR LETTER BOX

"we are at all times willing to publish correspondence on mattors of public interest, but it must be distinctly understood that we are not identified with the letters of our correspondents.—Ed. Daily News.) A STRONG COMPLAINT. (To the Editor.) Sir,—When we heard first of technical education and ils wonderful possibilities we did not (at least, I did not) think that it was to be made tlte paramount study in schools. I'utty-moulding and papercutting may be very interesting to tho youngsters, but of little practical value, and 1 am of opinion that the children might manufacture their putty-pies and many cornered pieces of paper at home during the long winter evening's. In their place I would recommend extra instruction in writing and arithmetic, including of course, the formation of the numeral figures. Quito lately I have seen most remarkable .specimens of hand-writing by children in the fourth and fifth standards, the letters being ill-shapcn and irregular, whilst, the lines ruled on the pages are almost utterly ignored. As for the so-called "sums," they presented the appearance of a jumbled collection of figures, without rhyme or meaning, and unlovely in the extreme. And as for quick mental calculation in arithmetic, knowledge of it seems lo be utterly absent. Surely the importance of the items above-mentioned is not to be overlooked in order that the youngsters attending our public schools may become expert putty-moulders, daubers in doubtful water-colours, or pupcrcutters.—l am, etc., OBSERVER.