THE WAKELIN MATTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 97, 1 March 1879, Page 2

THE WAKELIN MATTER.

To the Editor of the Wairarapa Dailt, Sir,—l was very glad to see a truthful and temperate Jotter in your issue of Tuesday last, taking up the opposite side of this matter, With tho writer of that letter I also can speak of over twenty year's experience, and must endorse all 'lie says respecting our inspector, From tho writings of Mr Walcolin and his friends (from the like save me) it will very readily be seen that Mr Lee has not been satisfied with the whole results, or at least the system of teaching in Greytown school, and in a mild and forbearing manner endeavored to get the head master to alter it. In his report for 1875 tho Inspector says: " Reading, writing, discipline, and general management should improve," It was. the duty of tho teacher to. see thai these suggestions were, attended to, but the sequel shqira that they were, not, 'for in 187§weagain read;-"! how-

ever, liUtov'spo such improvements efc fected in the general system of work a3l pointed out, principally with a view to greater uniformity in the work dono, and an even distribution of tlio teaching power." No" tyranny" is hore evinced, but once more a kindly remonstrance, and had it been attended to all would have' been well, but as it was not, and tho school failed, nothing was loft for the Inspector , to do but to record a direct censure. ' < Against this Mr. Wakelin rebelled, netjho Inspector at defiance, and endeavored to'■■'•/■ throw the onus upon his assistant, and in . aridiculou3 manner rushed his quarrel before the public. I venture to say that no efficient teacher over put together s'Mi absurdities as were contained in Wake- . lin's letter to the Board some six months back. Inexperience and want of method and management were seen in every part of it, and the writer must have lowered' j himself in the eyes of-.the-whole profes- ' sion. Ido not think that Mr Wakelin can blame anyone but himself for the position he now occupies. He has had a good school, better teaching power than any of his neighbors, aud yet his'pupils, havo gone back. I have been in his com-c : ; pany but little, but that little was enough.':.. to convince me that when Greytown lost its male assistant it lost its best man, and Mr Wakelin may date his .fall, not from ■ the introduction of Mr Samuelinto life school, but from the time when, holding a good certificate, he bent his energies to tako a higher literary position, instead improving the weak points in his system ; of teaching.—Yours, &c.' ~',;; * ,