WHATAWHATA SCHOOL.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 368, 17 November 1898, Page 2

WHATAWHATA SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The paragraph in your Saturday's issue referriug to the examination of the Whatawhata School is very unfair to the teacher, and calculated to cause him unnecessary paiu. The childreu who have attended school regularly with rare exceptions passed. Children who do not attend cannot be expected to pass. Of course, long distances account to a certain extent for this, but I am sorry that the Whatawhata School for years past has been badly attended, and former teachers have resigned solely on this account. —lam, etc.. T. C. Black ett, Chairman Whatawhata School Committee.

TO THK EDITOB. Sik,—lii a paragraph in your Saturday's issue, referring to the examination of the pupils attending the Whatawhata School, I notice a grave reflection is cast upon our teacher. I feel perfectly certain had your informant inspected the school roll his report would nave been less severe. Parents cannot expect their children to be successful in their examinations unless they attend regularly. Many of the children attending this school are very irregular attendants, thereby doing neither themselves nor their teacher justice. 1 could iustance several parents whose children attend regularly and every child has passed—notably those of Mr T. C. Blackett, whose son, now in his thirteenth year, has passed the sixth standard ; one girl has passed the fifth, and two others, and eleven years respectively, passed into the fifth. All these childrenJßi were iu the second and third standards when Mr Pilkington was appointed teacher three years since. I do not thiuk your correspondent could have made himself conversant with the facts of the matter or he would not have said anythiug which would tend to injure the reputation of a careful aud painstaking ceacher. As a member of the School Committee I could not allow this matter to pass without comment. Thanking you in anticipation,—l am, etc., W. D. Laxon. Whatawhata, 15th November, 1898.