THE GERALDINE FLAT SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1503, 8 May 1886, Page 2

THE GERALDINE FLAT SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I beg space in your columns to correct the misrepresentations of the correspondent misnaming himself “ Fairplay ” in rour yesterday’s issue. Either from insufficient information or malicious distortion, the statements are quite untrue, and if from the latter cause I am soiry for the possessor of the mean spirit which actuated such an unprovoked and anonymous attempt. In the first place we have not, and have not had, any sewing outside school hours as stated. The first half-hour of the hour and a-half’s sewing was taken off the hour’s interval for luncheon, and quite often during the first half-hour of the same recess the pupils were detained to finish their forenoon’s work. So it is evident many pupils would not be in a fit state lo use profitably the hour left after sewing. Of the reliability of the second statement, your readers may judge from the following tacts : More than the hour and a-half required per week was devoted by me to the scholarship-holder's lessons, and if I did not think the holder prepared I would not, immediately on receipt of the Inspector’s intimation, have taken the papers to her parents’ bouse, and offered to spend tny holidays, as I did last year, in getting her well-prepared. This was on Saturday, the 6th February, and I offered to resume lessons on the Monday morning following. I was informed they had other views for her, and that it wa* not likely she would go up. I said I would be at home and would await their decision. It never reached me, though I was engaged on private work at home, till the 16th February. The papers were returned to me without a message. With this ‘plain unvarnished tale ’ I would recommend “ Fhirplay” (?) to put his name to his next.—l am, etc., Alexander Penney, Master Geraldine Flat School. May 5, 1886.