THE DESIRE TO LEARN.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
SIE,—With reference to the remarks of Dr. Gow as to the English boy quoted and practically endorsed by "H.E. T." in your issue of June 21st, I venture to send you the following experience. I have the pleasure of acting as manager of a rural elementary schooL Situated in the same parish is a preparatory school for Eton, Winchester, &c.; a master in this school is a fellow- manager of the elementary school, and occasionally pays it a visit. During one such visit he remarked : " These children are anxious to learn, but it takes me so long to create a desire for learning in our boys that I have but little time in which to teach them." "Yes," I said, "but these teachers were trained before they entered the school, and his Majesty's inspector comes twice a year to see that they are able to do their work. But you have never been taught how to teach, and are under no sort of inspection." If all masters in preparatory and public schools were certificated like elementary-school teachers, and were also under Government inspection, we should, I venture to think, hear less about idle boys and ill- educated officers. When his Majesty's inspector finds a class of idle children he does not rebuke the scholars, he recom- mends the managers to dismiss the teacher.—I am, Sir, &c., E. H. R. E. H. R.
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