The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 664, 11 January 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1881.

On tho 24th inst., the annual oleotions of school committees take place under Ihe cumiilativo vote. This, method 61" election" gives almost any man who chooses in a district like tho Wairarapa ii way to put himself on n school com-, mitteo by allotting to himself the seven votes which are placed at his disposal by the .Act. It is, in bur opinion, a feather in <lie cap of the' electors that they seldom avail themselves of this privilege, They prefer being returned by a majority rather tlnin sneak in on a minority ticket. However well the cunmlativu vote miiy work in large communities like England, in New Zealand it is the silliest farce imaginable. Wo would rather direct the attention of our readers to the duty incumbent upon them to return the 'very best men tbey can find in their local circles. Once a year they have an opportunity' of taking part in the administration of our educational system,- by selecting good men and true to represent them on their committee, and to see that ' their children are dealt with fairly and justly by teachers and" the Education Board. Every father of a family neglects his duty to his children if he does not'present himself at the election and give his vote'.to. the candidates for office'who are in hisopinion competent to discharge the trust committed to them. Year after year (his duty has been neglected to a great extent, and it is incumbent upon us to remind parents that when—as they frequently do—they complaiii that this thing and that tiling is not us it should be they have only themselves to blame if they miss the. opportunity which the law gives them once a year of constituting a local governing body, The teaching staff in (his district is improving year by year. Anyone who remembers what it was ten years ago, seven years ago, live years ago, or even three years, ago, must bo struck with tho marked advance made in the number and the attainments of school teachers. Still there, arc always inefficient teachers lo be weeded out and efficient teachers to be encouraged and helped on with tlna'r labors; and this is the work that ill a great measure school committees are called upon to undertake. Committees of intelligent and educated men can readily and easily fullil such a task but a committee comprised of men who have not these characteristics cannot discharge such duties, but becomes a mere buffer between tho Education Board and the teacher. Though the . tioard has a. greater power than a Committee over schools and teachers, the latter, if it bo intelligent, can practically exercise more influence over both than the former, A good committee will make a good school and a. bad committee may, in spite of the Board make a bad school. The importance of liaving the best men in the district oh school committees cannot be over 'estimated, and it is impossible for us to urge parents too strongly to think over the matter at once. Select the men in their different localities who, by their education and reputation are best fitted to understand school administration, imd if those yon chose are unlikely to come forward without some inducement put every legitimate pressure on them to. become candidates. The Education Board has no verv great respect for school committees, but it would have if our best men were selected'to serve on them. ■