THE KAUAERANGA A SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1899, 3 February 1875, Page 3

THE KAUAERANGA A SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE SUPERIOR SCHOOL.

(to the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sic,—Permit me to call your attention to one of the results of the Superior School arrangement in the Kauaeranga District. A boy aged seven has Been sent away from the school because he cannot read, as will be seen from the following, which you will perceive from the signature is authentic. 1 see no reason to publish the name of the writer unless, it be absolutely necessary/ On Monday, February Ist, a lad of mine, aged sevenyears, who had been in attendance at the Kauaeranga School for tome considerable time, was sent home from school for the ostensible reason that "he could not read." I thought the reason adduced rather strange, as I had sentthe boy to school for the rery purpose of learning 1 to read; consequently I thought it a mistake of the boy, and determined that I would call on Mr Brown, the teacher, and ask him why the boy was sent home, which I did this morning (Wednesday). ( His first reply was that he had sent some away because they could not read, advising them to go 10 *ome other school. I said I thought it strange that he should be sent home because he could not read, when I had sent him purposely that he might learn to read. He then said it must be a mistake, that he did not do so, as he was too well acquainted with Sublic schools and the Act under which ley were regulated, and that if such had been done too many would be ready to pounce upon him. He then asked the age of the boy. I said perhaps he had forgotten the circumstance, to which he replied—Not at all, his memory was very good; but if I would send the boy back he would do what he could for him. As the whistle had been sounded, I had to ; wait till the children had been put through their drill, such as—" Eyes front. Hand touching the right seam of trousers. Mark time. Headsup. Ac." And it struck me very forcibly that this system of: opening and conducting schools is not much of an improvement on the old, and that it would be much better to teach the children their lessons than occupy their time in such tomfoolery under a broiling <sun. If we want our children to be drilled can they not join the Thames t Cadets or something of that kind ?— Query—How about the " wise men of Gotham" referred to by one of your recent correspondents. That this case is not an isolated one I have every reason to believe. The facts need no. comment, but,the questions naturally arise, what ajfttitHority has the teacher to act as he has abirei? and if the Kauaeranga School Committee have converted the school in question intp a superior school, have they not done so illegally, and in opposition to the expressed opinion of the Board of '.Education on the subject?—l am; &c, x A LooKEB On.