IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

His numerous friends will be very pleased to learn that the Rev. Dr. W. A. Soga will be coming out from Scotland in September next. Dr. Soga, is, it is needless to say, the eldest son of the late Rev. Tiyo Soga. He received his early education at Lovedale from which Institution he proceeded to Edinburgh for his minis- terial and medical courses. He is said to be a very clever man. We hope he will be long spared for the great work of re- claiming Africa. We very much regret that the Eastern Star has departed from the wholesome practice that has hitherto marked the Press of the Colony in commenting on, and virtually prejudging the cases about to be tried in connection with the Pelser shooting case, and in which the Rev. John D. Don and Mr. G. A. Hay figure as the criminals. Deeply interested as we are in these trials we shall not follow the lead of the Star—not even in confuting its wild assertions. It is, however, very important that the matter should be thoroughly sifted to the bottom; and we agree with the Cape Argus that all the lovers of justice should contribute something to- wards the testing and setting at rest of so important an issue both for the credit of this country and the satisfaction of the Natives. THE Education Department has issued the subjoined alterations in Standards according to which pupils are to be classi¬fied for inspection. Perhaps the Tembu- land Teachers will avail themselves of this change to ask Dr. Dale to set them and the Inspectors right by clearly defining the Standards in those subjects in which they disagree. Teachers of Schools in connection with the Department of Public Education are requested to take notice that certain changes have been made in classifying the Scholars under the Elementary Standards I—IV of instruction in Arithmetic. Standard I.—Requirements. Simple Addition (Lowest) and Multiplication Table as far as 6 times 12 Standard II.—Requirements. Any example in Simple Rules as far as Short Division. The Multi- plication Table. Standard III.—Requirements. Long Division. Compound Rules (money). Standard IV.—Requirements. Practice. Simple Proportion and Vulgar Fractions (Elementary Exercises) . Standard V.—A pass in Vulgar and Deci- mal Fractions, in addition to the present subjects, will be required from January, 1886. LANGHAM DALE, Superintendent-General of Education. Education Office, 19th June, 1885. THE Native Educational Association held its Annual Meeting at Pirie yester¬day, and sat the second day this morning. The attendance was very large, most of the Frontier districts having been well represented. The Vice-President was in the chair, and almost all the office-bearers were present. The discussions were as varied as they were interesting. Among several resolutions passed were two—one conveying the sympathy of the Association to the Rev. John D. Don and Mr. G. A. Hay in the criminal proceedings that have been instituted against them, and another the thanks of the Association to the Health Board of King William's Town, for their energy in stamping out the small-pox epidemic. A considerable discussion took place in connection with schools and the present depression. It revealed the fact that the famine was working towards minimizing numbers in Schools, a fact which is proving detrimental to Native elementary education. No resolution was come to on the subject. A resolution was carried to thank the Missionary Conference for the steps and efforts they have taken in the liquor traffic. Kafir-beer was deemed by the Association a stepping-stone to fire- water, and that it should be treated as such. Other discussions are to take place on the desirability of compulsory education for the Natives, and of having the history of the Natives traced and printed in Kafir for the use of Schools