GERALDINE FLAT SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1505, 13 May 1886, Page 2

GERALDINE FLAT SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Wsuld you allow me space to answer a letter in jour last issue, signed Alexander Penney, wherein the writer attempts to make out the statements stated by “ Fairplay ” in a former issue of yours as incorrect, but fails completely, as he shows by his own contradictions. Now, Mr Editor, I am oae of the Committee of the Geraldine Flat School, whera the writer, Alexander Penney, is master, and alio a parent of the scholapship holder mentioned, and can state that the statements made by “ Fairplay ” are perfectly correct. The writer states that there is no excess of sewing time given after school hours which is iacorrect, as it was agreed by the Committee that there should b« one hour £a week excess given to sewing after school hours, and the writer himself appointed half the luncheon hour as the time for the excess of sewing to be given. And as for that extra half hour rendering the children nnfit to use the remainder of the day profitably that is a very poor excuse for the neglect of the primary subjects, while the master, if he thought that it did, could change the half hour excess till after the day’s work was done or to any other time, so that it would be advantageous to the teaching: of the school. I think that the above is enough to show that the neglect of the primary subjects is not owing to excess of sewing time, but owing no doubt to the negligence and incompetency of the master. As to the soholarship, the writer states that the scholarship holder was prepared previous to the examination. He then contradicts bis statement and says that be was prepared to spend bis holidays in trying to have her prepared, but instead, however, of teaching her be goes on a holiday, and doss not tnrn up till a few days previous to the examination. The writer also states that he was informed that the parents bad other views for her. Whoever was the writer’s informant be was decidedly wrong, as 1 never had any other views for her at that time. The writer also stated that be had the scholarship holders well prepared the previous year, and tries to take the credit for their success. 1 bare to inform the writer that they were taught by our late master, Mr Cooke, for the previous two years for the scholarships, the writer only teaching them a few weeks previous to the examination, when he was appointed to the school. Honor to them to' whom honor is due, and it is due to our lata master, Mr Cooke, who made our school a credit to the district, and bad from 91 per cent, of passes upwards, while the writer has allowed the passes to dwindle down to about 56 per cent, with the same children, The Inspector also reports in his last Inspection “ that be can’t say the school is well taught on the whole.” Now, Mr Editor, I want to close this correspondence as 1 have neither the wish nor the time to get into a discussion with the pedagogue of the Geraldine Flat {School. From the above your readers will see where the maliciousness and mean spiritedness lies.—l am, etc., F, McShan*, May 10.