To the Baitor of the "Norn-Cumma Dany News" sinn expressing appreciation of your' admirable leading article. of Thursday last, when you pointed out the great disadvantages the. Public School for Junior 'Boys is suitoring by the lack of an assembly hall and adequate playing ground, may 1 be Permitted to trespass on, your valu able space by referring to the dramatic' entertainment "given a few days ago by this school The programme included two} playlets In simple, intellible French; of Falstaff and Prince Hal were very capably presented.
It was obvious that the concert was} a genuine entertainment, But what should also have been obvious was that such performances are an sential part of @ good education. A boy will enthusiastically remember the Shakespeare, or the French, or whatever else it' may be, that he' has acted himself, or has seen his friends fact, whereas many routing lessons of the class room may sink Into oblivion.
Yet this school (no longer "Junior," by the way), has been able to give only one such concert since its inception, and it may be some time before it can give another: because In the construction of the present} building, the most important part was omitted," Therefore, the school must either borrow a hall, which is extremely inconvenient to all concerned or neglect this side of education entirely.
Economy has no doubt been necessary, but to economize at the expense of common educational faeliis surely unwise, Moreover, in a city where we adults allow ourselves 30. -many luxuries, even in these hard times, it is a pity not to provide our children with the ameni-Hes that every modern secondary school is expected to enjoy.
Shanghai, Feb, 20,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.