OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1889, 7 November 1874, Page 3

OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the TflAMfiS Advertissr. Sib,—Notwithstanding all the " blowing" which has lately appeared in the Thames newspapers, f venture to ask, is the condition of our common schools such as it should be ? I think anyone capable of forming a correct opinion will say they are not. Why is this P The fact is, the teachers have too much to contend against in most cases. Ist. They are so miserably paid that they are only waiting for aa opportunity to give up their situations. 1 know beyond a doubt that there is not a single male teacher on the Thames who is satisfied with his salary and position. 2nd. The schoolrooms are, for the most part, the moat wretched apologies for such that I ever saiv, and they are equally as miserably furnished. 3rd. Tuey are not provided with galleries nor withplaygrounds, consequently the teacher has no opportunity of teaching them in masses, nor of exercising a moral influence over them in playtime—both so essential to the mental and moral wellbeing of his scholars. 4th. There is a system of favouritism, which culminated in the visit of the Inspector of Schools to-day. It has been apparent for some time that Mr William Howe (I would like to know what right he has to the title of li squire) is, as he has declared himself to be, chairman, of the Waiotahi School Committee. I say school advisedly.. He never goes near any other school in the Waiotahi district; he seldom attends any meetings of the committee, unless they are held at a time aud place suited to his convenience. In.fact, he neglects his duty as a member of the committee, and gives himself no trouble exctpt about the i-reek school. Is this fair to' the other -scuools ana teachers? The present teacher of the Waiolahi Creek School ; way, tor all X know* bo a, gQQd. on,?* Jfta

system is, however, by no means new—in fact, it is described in the accompanying volume of "Stow's Training System," and was tried in the National Schools in. Ireland for some years with indifferent success. People saw there was a great deal of gilt and very little gingerbread in it. I simply deny his vaunting boast that there is not a teacher but himself on the Thames. There are as good, if not better, he, however, seems to disregard the instructions given by the Inspector of Schools, who has told other teachers to teach their pupils thoroughly " reading, Bpelling, writing, and arithmetic," before attempting anything else. However, ho hopes to get the people to persuade the Board to build a High School and appoint him head teacher at £500 per annum. Where is the money to come from P Out of the pockets of the sixty "influential persons" who attended the meeting or out of the pockets of the teachers of the common schools, who cannot in some instances screw more than £140 per annum out of the Board of Education for schools with 210 and 185 children on the roll respectively,' 'ihe sixty "influential persons," including members of committee who were erstwhile gum diggers, pakeha Maories, bushvaarks, et mullieijus dem generis, will not be likely to put their names down for £10 or £20 apiece. It. must, therefore, come out of the pockets of the general public, who will in no way reap any benefit from a High School, because they will not be able to keep their children at school long enough to derive any benefit from it. We must walk before we can run! Establish the common schools on a secure, respectable foundation before you talk a great deal of nonsense about High Schools. It is, no doubt, a very desirable thing to have the means of obtaining a first-class education for the few at the lowest possible cost; but it is of far more public importance for the general run of the people to be able to give their children a sound, though elementary, education. The former is the duty of the parents, the latter is that of the state.—l am, &c., Edmund C.' Cobnes, Late head teacher Kanieranga Boys' School. ' P.S.—Lord Palmersiou used to say, " Providence helps those who help themselves." The Provincial Government seem to do likewise. Why don't the richer portion of the Thames community put their hands in their own pocketß and leave off " blathering ?" Let the sixty " influential " put this in their " pipe." They don't represent a tithe of the Thames public. •