THE CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1787, 18 December 1883, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL.

to the Kiirroii. SlK,— "Juatitia," in an issue ofacJKm journal of the 12fcli hist, endeavours to show that the Canrbiidge Kast School has not come up to the standard of an average good .school of the colony. It will bu difficult to persuade parents of children that such statement is true. In suppoit of his .statement ho compaies the Cambridge East and West Scho >1-, greatly to the disadvantage of tho former. When, however, his figures arc examined, they fail to substantiate hi« conclusions. It must be obvious that it is iwht unfair .and misleading to compare a l.uge school with a small one. Were Justitia to compiiie Canibiirlge East School with the Auckland City Schools, the compaiisou would be much in favour of tho Cambiidge .scliool, and for a similar reason Justitia tries to scoio a point by showing that the proportion of pa«.so- to the roll number ii gi enter ill tlie Cambiidge West than in the Cambridge East School, but this statement must be taken in connection with the following facts. All the children attending the Cambridge West School come from a considerable distance — thus piecluding the attendance of very young children. Whilst the Cambiidge East Scliool, being .situated in the centre of Cambridge Js.i.st, and close to the bulk of the population in Cambiidge West, is attended by a very large number of young children, many of whom aie under tho age of eight year.s. Now, as eight id the age fixed by the board when a child must be presented for Standard I, it consequently follows that a lai^e pioportion of the children attending the Cambridge East scliool cannot be sent forward for examination. Then Mr Stewait is said to have h,ul another advantage m having 1 an extra staff. It i-> true he has had a larger staff than allowed by the board, but it has consisted entirely of young teachers, sent here t:> be trained. It is also to be remarked that Mr Hyatt's assistant, whose classes helped materially to swell his pass list, was sent to Mr Stewart to be trained, and then appointed to the West school. Then, granting for the moment that the figures aie couect, which I question, let me ask " Justitia" in what Standards did Mr Hyatt make his progress ? On enquiry he will find almost entirely in 1, 2 and 3, whilst Mr Stewarts success was in admittedly the most difficult Standards, viz., 4, 5 and (>. It would be interesting if your readers could be furnished with the numbor passed by Mr Hyatt in the three highest Standaids during the last two yeais. With that, however, I am not concerned, but let me state the results obtained by Mr Stcwaifc. In November, 1881, he passed 8!). 5 of the children actually examined, and 100 % in 5 and 0 Standards. In August, 1882, for nine months work (including two months holiday), 70.5 and 83 % in higher Standards. In 1883, 81.1, and 89 % in higher Standaidrf. Let m look at actual figures for 1883. 4th Standard, 12 presented, 10 passed. sth and Oth Standards, 19 presented, 17 passed. Then what has Cambridge West done in preparing candidates for district scholai ships ? I contend that to compare schools whose circumstances are so entirely different in the ages and numbers of children is unfair to both, and is entirely worthless as a test of the capacities of the respective teachers. One more question, and I have done. Why is it that so many senior children come from Cambridge West to Cambridge East ? It is evidently not from mere sentiment, as the inconvenience resulting from the distance proves. — I am, &c, AomcoLA. Cambridge, 15th December, 1883.

_ Two impounding notices appear in our advertising columns. Mr J. S. BucUancl will dispose of Messrs Bradley and Cos. coaching plant at Te Aroha on Monday next. Messrs Dickcson and Burnett request their customers to return at once all empty casks.' Mr Roger Harsant offers a really good farm of 406 acres on the banks of the Waipa and, Kaniwhaniwha livers for sale. An entertainment by the members of the Alexandra Dramatic Club will be given in the PtiM^* Hall, Alexandra, on Boxing Night, in ai&flfl^K Ueadinfr-rocm Huildinpf Fund. 1 . 'M^^^^^L.The Waikato Land AssociationJ^^^^^^H| (Limited) inyite tenders ,ip to Januiry, for deepening a drain t^^^^^^^^H length. \ Mr T. Trcwhecllar advertises ?^^^^^^^^^H goods for Christmas, 1883, in anbflS^^^^^^H and wishes his patrons and friends ' to^^M^^^^Hl inspect hji stock. Mr William dimming, brewer, Hamilton, has filed a statement that he is unable to meet 'his engagements with his creditors, and the first meeting of creditors will be held at the District Court-house, Hamilton, on the 22nd inst. The ratepayers of the Kihikihi Road District are notified in another column that the road board haw madeapplication to tbo Government for a loan of £200 for the purpose of constructing part of Lyons and' Whitroore-streets in the town of Kihikihi, and that a poll will be taken on Friflayt Hth;TanuaTy, 1884, to decide whether the board shall barrow or not. , , , ' On Thursday next Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co,,* will "hold; at .Oha'tipo, one, Qf,rrtbe, f !jirg< st cattle sales of -, the, teason. Particulars of tho lots to be sußmHted ! will be found in the advert'soment. The cattle include choice shorthorn -b\fl)f>; the property of the Auckland Agricultural Company.,, .. ( , . >( . |/r> „, f .j,j^ n c beg to draw the attention of flock-masters to ,. t - h Sv G }j"9, e £ il>6 v :D , { P r "»l» , anpther column, and whteh'is'adknowledged't6 bd tW4>&t, safest, most efficacious and economical sheep deep at j-p/esent in use/,eUhf c for promotinajtbe' growth of w6*f; destroying tick's, curing f&St, Vr6tefcHon against wet or^oJdftjV "itKiirVnse improving tho health and condjtion.,,o|L#e animal. , Mr John K^ox v the i^ajn|ito^ agcnV Jss *^