CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 381, 22 October 1874, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

(To tho Editor of the Waikato Timks.) Sir, —Will you kindly publish tho following extract, clipped from onr of jour Auckland contemporaries respecting tlio doings of tlio Education Eouid. I fully anticiputcil Unit other pent than roinu would have token the subject up ero this ; no 0110 having done jo. I trust I shall not bo con* tmlered pri'stunptuoiu if 1 moke ti few reworks niient tint most important subject, in tho hopo that thoec more dnettly intonated will take up tho cudgels and ventilate the matter tboiuugh^. The lepoit o»" tbo committee upon small schools was as follows. — "We have tlio honor to report that, in nrcordanco with the deiire of the Bouvd, wo h&ve' ciumiocd ni to tbo eireuditure of »m»ll echcols under ita

control. Wo append u schedule, showing the gross and averuge attendance at all schools whero the average is 20 anil uridrr, and specifying the salary of each teacher. We have made certain leeommendations specified in the schedule us to each oi these w hools. The carrying out *dTthese recommendations will involve <the closing of tome, and tho converting of others into half-time schools. The case of most of the remainder will be met by UjfrfadopjUoii of the secoud of the two resolutions which w#Tnf ?e tH| jhonor to submit for the approval of tke Board. J)sfc following were the resolutions :— (U That this Board, with a t«w to provide efficiency as well as economy, will pH»inok«>tbe establishment of short time schools rather than <fli«tt 'of small whole time schools in districts where th"c children at any one centre are but few, (2) That after the 31st December next tho pay of teachers of schools where the average attendance is under twenty shall not be at a higher rate than that of £4 per head on the average attendance of each preceding qunrter except aa a temporary arrangement in t, peoial cases. |J — Tlie adoption of it was moved by, M ivLusfc, sfid carried. At present no school&ster can receive a £100 a year unless ho be the holder of a certificate, or there'iaran ftverage attendance of twenty children above the, age, of four years ab his school, the consequence is, in rery few country districts do teachers receivo more than £80 per annum, scarcely labourers wages . for this pittance, they must preserve a respecteble exterior and position, undergo sundry badgeriDgs from the local school committees (whenever the spirit moves them) ; submit to many insults and annoyances from the parents of the children, and, in many instances, support a wife and large family, (all for 30s a week). Many a schoolmaster who is competent to hold a certificate has none, because he has not the wherewithal to take him to Auckland, and pass his examination. The new nrrangpment a* proposed and earned by the Board will place unlimited power in the hands of the parents of the children (who are not like a king of Bashan — their mercy does not endure for ever), and the poor village pedagogue will be entirely at their mercy, and will indeed find it a difficult matter not to lose from £2 to £6 from his salary at any moment at the caprice of any parent. "What is to b* done with the tax collected ? Is that to be squandered in carrying out the pomps and vanities of the Act? If so, it is quite time that education matters were placed in other bands. These resolution! may aniwtr in the large centresof population, but they never will in tho outdistricis, the very places where good Government schools and masters are requirrd in consequente of the mixed nature of the population . The absence of private establishments makes the village school the only place where a child can be sent ; hence the importance of maintaining them in the out districts. Why not abolish the Board, the secretary, the local school committees, and let the inspector perform all the work connected with the schools, under the superintendence of the Provincial Treasurer. In many instances the local committees obstruct the advancement of the school, and unless the teacher buys his tea from one and sugar from another, his life is made a burden to him, and he is persecuted till be packs up bis traps and takes himself off. A teacher to be of service should be free from the annoyance* to which be u at present subject, which emanate from the petty jealousies and want of unanimity amongst the porente, which precludes many a good teacher remaining very long in one place. Can you tell me how many country school masters have remained in the same school for two years ? It is to be hoped tho Board will rescind these absurd resolutions, which are tantamount to closing many schools now in existence in outdiitricts. An Old Bua. Waikato, Oct. 20, 1574.