THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1886, 19 January 1875, Page 2

THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sib,—-There are circumstances connected with the action of the Kauaeranga School Committee which are little short of incomprehensible, and in order that the committee may not appear to be hopelessly insane, or utterly inconsiderate of every thing but the satisfaction of their own peculiar vanity—at no matter what sacrifice of others' interests—it would be well to offer some sort of explanation; if they are in a position to explain conduct which almost partakes of the character of childishness. Setting aside the fact that the committee failed to comply with the terms of the. Act before announcing the opening of a superior school in connection with the i Kauaeranga common.school,- such a step would be inimical to the interests of the educational district, and to no part of it more than to the Kauaeranga. ; Therefore it is that I have been induced to remark upon their seeming insanity. Are the committee of that district capable of sacrificiDg to negligence and ignorance the children of their common school, in order that they (the committee) may have the gratification of possessing a superior school in their district. It look's like it. On this, a shrewd man—such an one, for instance, as the Secretary of that committee, might enquire how "negligence and ignorance" could be made an argument. In this way.. Say the attendance at the common school before the holidays was 200, we may be assured that the previous teacher found his time more than occupied in imparting instruction to such a number; and supposing the attendance of children to be so large as 200 at the resumption of school duties (which I think no one will doubt), the obvious conclusion is that the teacher will find his time no less fully employed than before in doing justice to the precious* important charge placed in his hands. .Disregarding, then, the legal aspect of the case —which you, sir, demonstrated yesterday —it is perfectly evident that Mr Brown cannot do justice to the.two offices. It is a farce, an absurdity. While railing at local jealousy and its impediments this committee are inspired by it in every move: and to know this you have only to contemplate them, and their doihgi. Whence the hurry in this matter but to forestall others. If not they are guilty of want of management, and deficient in tact. I could assert with some confidence.that had Mr Brown been installed in a superior school without there being required of him other and paramount duties in his common school, there would be little of that opposition from other districts, which your virtuous and hard-reasoning contemporary says is begot of local jealousies. Pencil. Waiotahi, Jan. 19th.