The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 25 December 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

Ant question connected with the educational system of the province mu?it command the attention and respect of all thinking men. Nor is this to be wondered at when we consider the vast interests dependent on the training up of our youth n a manner fitted to render them useful, industrious, and intelligent citizens. Mr. Macandrew, some time ago, addressed a letter to the University Commissioners, embodying several suggestions well worthy of far gre-ter attention thanf they seem to have attracted. It is soj seldom that we find anything pro-! ceeding from the Superintendent! either praiseworthy or publicspirited, that we rejoice to find ourselves able in this instance to ranTc ourselves with his adinirersj and supporters. The letter we refer to, although only bearing upon the proposed University, suggests a system that might easily be ap plied to every school in Otago. Mr. Macandrew calls attention to the lack of anything like scientific or technical training. He natural]/ gives great prominence to the absence of anything like facilities tor teaching young men somet hl pg about geology in a country which owes everything to its mi" 6Vd^ resources. Probably enois'^ & was^ thought that teachers W" d of their own acqord add suc^ branches to those usually taught; vt > unfortunately, teachers ar* *b° u t the last men from whow An ything like a liberal view ©f^*" 16 meaning of education can expected. Their sole object is *> enforce a Procrustean system. ?y which all their pupils a** Wlt hout any consideration of ffie> cn ™ aptitudes or future useful^* compelled to pursue tha same course. _ The future me^anio, aa well as the sucking ■p^dfey, must wade through Delects and Colloquies—an enforced Ltady likely enough to dwarf the 'intellect of the former, however advantageous to the latter. In writing thus, we must not be supposed of those who join in the vulgar and ignorant cry against a classical training. We simply wish to

remind teachers that what is one boy's meat may be another boy's poison. Indeed, we regret to say any great outcry against the classics would be absurd in a country where the standard is kept at the lowest level ; where the three R's form the only curriculum in at least ninetenths of the schools ; where if anything higher is attempted, it is in a , hap-hazard and perfunctory man- j ner. No, our illustration rather refers to what would be the result were a higher standard adopted, without provisions for the teaching of scientific branches than to what j actually exists. We have repeatedly j urged on the Government the desi- j rability of providing every teacher with a set of meteorological instru- I ments, and compelling him to record his observations. This might serve as a beginning for the introduction of such studies to his pupils, who might easily be interested in the observations. We have known a case or two of fossils and a few specimens of different rocks create a strong enthusiasm among a number of schoolboys for geological studies, and with no trifling result, as one of the boys thus attracted now occupies a very high position in the world of science, and has made several valuable discoveries. A half-holiday ramble in the fields can easily be converted into an open-air lecture on botany. In fact, if teachers will only exert themselves, they will find very little assistance requisite to obtain great results. It is the disgrace of the colonies that so little interest is taken in anything that cannot be converted into £s. d. ; and the unnatural acuteness of the rising generation threatens that this evil will rather increase than diminish. Culture, literary or scientific, according to the natural turn of the pupils, is the only remedy, and the sooner it is applied the better, unless we desire to see the next generation turn out a mob of sordid and illiterate Bseotians. We thank Mr. Macandrew for raising- the question, and trust that he will not allow his energies to flag, however much opposition his educational reform may excite from those who have an interest in continuing the present system.