PASSING NOTES.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 177, 23 December 1892, Page 2

PASSING NOTES.

[By

NEMESIS.]

Mr Blades, chairman of the City Schools Committee, appears to be very ignorant of the state of country schools. In speaking to Mr Wilding’s notice of motion, re the necessity of teachers serving at least two years in the country before being eligible for the post of first assistant in a town school, he said that head teachers in country schools seldom had more than fifty scholars under their charge and as a rule only taught up to the Fourth Standard. On this statement he seemed to found his objection to Mr Wilding’s motion and the Committee supported him. A little learning is a dangerous thing and it seems to me that when gentlemen have served on a school committee for a year or two they become very self opiniated in educational matters. I would advise Mr Blades to travel the country a little more than he evidently has done and keep his eyes open. lie would then find that many ot the country teachers do quite as much work as the heads of the profession in Auckland ; and over a wider range too. for they have not the assistance of drawing, singing and drill instructors. Many of tlie country' schools, Mr Blades, have an attendance of a hundred and move cbildien and several of them have Sixth Standard classes from which boys and girls have gone forth and stood their own with your Auckland hoys, sir. And if I am not mistaken, Mr O’Sullivan, late Inspoclo) of Schools, was so satisfied with the work in the country that he placed his own children te be educate! in one of the Kaipara schools. * # # ‘ Some people might object to their style of service, but they must remember that this was an exact imitation (although ft brmjble one) of that carried on in Heaven ’ This I pond in the Bell's account, of the choral service ftf All Saints. I was not there but I have been to several pbnrch services and I suppose All Saints’are very Witch the same. What stiuck me on reading the above v/fts the “exact imitation,” and so I read it through a second time to get a clearer idea of the Heftveulv service and this is what I gathered and hgve been puzzling over since. Is 'he service in Heavers delayed because of stress of weather? Will the parsons he the last to arrive? The altos we read made up in quality what they lacked in volume, they were hardly strong enough, Is this the perfection of Heaven P I could understand the “ exact imitation ” wbou it said “ the bass (base) were wanting in strength and volume.” Will the organ have wings in Heaven and will the hymn books be without cayprs? Will nervousness be apparent”

there, or will they sing “ in a jerky fashion P” And will the Heavenly service be “ in aid of the choir music ? ” And will the preacher wish “ to avoid saying one word offensive tc* other denominations ? ” I have come to the conclusion that it may be “ an exact imitation ” and yet a very spurious coin. My idea of Heaven is that the angels sing for glory of God and not for choir music ; and that nothing will be hidden there, all will speak their minds freely and have no fear of other denominations being offen.de 1. Nervousness will be unknown there, and those who take part in the service will be all saints there and not the building.