MATTERS EDUCATIONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1915, Page 7

MATTERS EDUCATIONAL.

To the Editor. Sir, —In reading the account of a meeting of farmers held at Lowgarth, as reported in your issue this morning, I wa» particularly impressed with the statement of Mr, Curteis, president of the Northern Division of the Wanganui Teachers' Institute. The portion I refer to is where Mr. Curteis is reported to have said that "if that portion of the district was tacked on to the Taranaki Board, it would be a great pity for the district and for the cause of advanced and progressive education." Now, Mr. Editor, before ai'person holding the position Mr. Curtei9 does makes a statement such as this he should be acquainted with actual facts, and not make such erroneous statements at random. Evidently he has no knowledge of the standard of education of the Taranaki and Wanganui boards, otherwise he would never beep so foolish to speak in the manner he has done. For fear of anyone taking seriously the statement of Mr. Curteis, 1 would like to make a comparison between the work of the two boards, and am quite prepared to leave the public to judge the true position. I will take the Junior National Scholarship examinations as a basis of my argument, as this will give a very fair and impartial view of the standard of education existing under the two boards. The following figures are the percentage of those who qualified for the Junior National Scholarship since 1910 under the two boards:—

Taranaki. Wanganul. ! 1910 7.4 per 1000 4.8 per 1000 J 1911 6.3 per 1000 4.0 per 1000 1812 '8.2 per 1000 3.8 per 1000 1913 7.1 per 1000 4.9 per 1000 1914 6.8 per 1000 4.2 per 1000 On the five years mentioned Taranaki has had a percentage of 7.8 per 1000 of those qualified to take the scholarship, and Wanganui has had 4.36. On the figures for the Dominion for that term Taranaki is second highest on the list and Wanganui eleventh. There are, I may say, thirteen educational districts in the Dominion. I can only think that Mr. Curteis is not cognisant of the actual position, as no man knowing the true position could possibly make, a statement such as he has which is so far from fact. I, personally, am strongly of opinion that it would-be in the best interests of the children of Taranaki if the provincial boundaries were made the educational boundaries. Unfortunately Taranaki, not only in educational matters, but commercial and other -matters, have been for some time divided, and Instead of the whole province concentrating for the good of the district we are more or less pulling against each other, to the detriment of all concerned. The Taranaki educational district will in all probability be retained, and this is a splendid opportunity for the north and . south to work together, and place the facilities for the education of the children on the best basis possible. From the point of view of agricultural education the province has outstanding features for the development of this good work, and I trust that parochialism will be dropped, an J that north and south will work together to obtain the very best result both for the children and the district.—l am, etc., ROBERT MASTERS. Stratford, 18/10/15.