, 1875-10-20

rying on the work of education, and the valuable
system of Compulsory Attendance is establish
ed, evils have crept in, which require to be
eradicated, and | think that through the Press
of this island, these points should be remarked
on, at one lime or another. The compulsory
system of education obliges parents and guar
dams of children Tor processes to do so as far
as I understand it, to send them regularly to
school. But from Information recently recelV-
ed, and from my own observation, and again on
looking over some of the certificates gwen
at the several examinations, (Which L think
should be we'll noticed) L am struck Win
horror at the state of affairs, and thus 1t
goes on from year to year, children are allowed
to pass out from these schools, having attended
so badly. If this system of education was
established for the benefit of the children alone,
then, perhaps, it might be said, let it alone, but
it is also for the benefit of the community IN
general, and must tell upon it in some way or
another. The idea Of some children (and
these form a great majority leaving sch)oI,
who-have. only attended during the short time
allowed them) one year, or one year and SIX
months, or two years.. e.. Mary Obs
this day removed to the Saturday School
Attendance: very bad absent 461 times IN 4
years-Reading learningletters, aud 50 on, tn
is the way it goes on. In the first place the
time allowed is entirely too short, especially as
the schools are only open for half the day, anu
then to have 50 much of that short time taken
away. We have no objection to pay our taxes
but yet we really feel sad at seeing our money
laid out SO Intellectually, as 1t Is III TINS depart
ment. Our children should be carefully looked
after, ard not by one and another deprived of
what will be of use to themselves, and to the
community. We claim the help of our govern
t1nut on fhiS pDiut . raal rpfDrln IL n09UnU 1t
is the opinion of some that thos3 who are to be
field -labourers should not be educated, but
| ask, why is it peculiar to this Island : Visit
other islands, and examine the state Of affairs
in their various country schools (say nothing OF
those in their towns and you will be aStonlSt-
ed l have had the privilege, and | Shudder to
think that overS 80 years the same state OF
things is allowed TO 70 on. Whose fault IS 1t
Let your conscienccs smite you, and be- moved
. to remedy the evils, if you have the opportunl-
ty. | understand that the various teachers OF
the. country schools Of this lSlanG, along Win
their valuable inSpeOtOr) have great trouble III
carrying out the uai4a6ie system oI cohPuI-
sorv attenN ance, and have to grleVe
at the meagre results at tAo S0Vetal
examinations, occasioued by circumstances over
which they have no control. learn thRI III
vary faw of the schools can a steady average
attendance of two thirds Of the scholars be
seeured-Whv The real negligence OF one
marty or another, parents, guardians anu otlerS
Commemorative Inspector, ana the teachets
NAV try, but az dong as 'there IS opPOsltl)h IN
bold forms. by those who should 90 all they
oan to assist, no good effect can be secured
The most trivial excuses are made lor non
attendance. Should this be allowed to pass !
saw, No. Garry out the law to It's nigh
est degree, AMI wait the results. We often IN
our walks see children who should be Ia SCHOOL
gathering fuel till parents come home gong
en errands, taking care of infants, and doing
all other kinds of work appointedaby parents
and guardians. and yet regularly at WORK IN
the afternoon to secure their allowance L
again repeat, this should not be allowed 10 20
on. Some means should be used to put a stop
to this. A great deal of time and money
heinp spent on education, care should be taken'
that nothing should be done (by those Tor
whose benefit it's i~ntended) to retard Its pro-
gress. At the same time, all should Dc dohe
by others to aid in carrying on this work. l
am a friend of education, | know Its Value'
q friend of teachers, I sympathIze with Cnem
in their difficulties, | am not unreasonable 10
expect better from them, when L know In what
state things are. In visiting school examlna'
tons lately, I have been struck in two schools
especiallv to notice, the very small children
who have been dismissed. L say children
should be kept in school until they are II
wears Did. and should attend the whole day.
Do away with the folly of attending a Saturday
school. Again, I learn from reliable sources
That ohildraD ofton. ooma tO school ttOr the