The Westport Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1236, 11 December 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1874.

That the number of aspirants from our local schools for the academic honors preferred by the Province is not larger is to some a matter of surprise. To others who take into account the many and particular causes lending to prevent Provincial youth attaining a more than average degreo of educational lore, before arriving at an age which them from competition for Provincial scholarships, tho wonder is that anv boys at all are found whose preceptors, without risk of discredit to their own scholastic fame, can safely permit to face the ordeal of competitive examination. The average chances of a colonial youth attaining the degree of proficiency necessary to entering on the contest are against rather than for the youth. Taking the routine in Nelson Provincial schools as a fair example it will bo found that a youngster entering school, say at tho age of five years, finds himself an insignificant unit amoug a mass of other children of older growth, through whose ranks by slow degrees he, if blessed with sharp intellects, slowly year by year under supervision of junior teachers finds his way to the classes immediately under the masters care. If of slothful, disposition or slow at book he lags irretrievably in the roar. Hi 3 chance of being helped along amid the crowd is ever doubtful. Safely reaching his masters footstool there he may, from ten to fifteen years of age, drink as deeply at the fount of learning as his natural inclination and his mentor's skill and fostering care will permit, and all things tending thereto may surmount the difficulties which obstruct the way to success in competitive examination. But just at this critical era in school boy life every day contingencies and exigencies come athwart his path. His young muscles, gaining in lustiness, represent value in the labor market. His knowledge of the three li's is sufficient to make his services of avail among men who contrive to make mouey with scarcely any school learning at all. Iu a word the youth may earn his living as soou as ho pleases, and parents to whom the burthen of every day care is heavy, and whose paths in life are not cast in pleasant places, too often make a virtue of necessity and the lad's school career is abruptly terminated. It is the exception and not the rule to find pupils of thirteen years of age and upwards steadily pursuing their studies. Thus it comes about that for competitive examinations the candidates are few and the sum total of their successes small. As a matter of present expediency, this early forcing of juvenile strength into tho labor field may be held excused, but upon the broad principles of the general good it is unsound in theory and pernicious in effect. If New Zealand would keep pace with other rising nations in their rapid advance on the field of literature and learning, she needs must mentally train her rising scions, and not only place tho means of education within tho reach of budding intellects, qualified and quick to attain instruction, -but so train the public mind that men may value solid mental power above all other possessions.