( 39 ) Mathematics, the most important fact that should not be lost sight of is that the study of History through the medium of English helps a boy to learn (hát language far better than the reading of the English text-book itself. The standing complaint that Entrance boys now cannot write two sentences in English correctly has mainly arisen from the absence of suitable History text-books from the curriculum and the introduction of too many subjects for the Entrance Examination. If Bengali were substituted for English, as the Parishad proposes, the English that boys would learn would be far below the mark. This alone is a disadvantage which, to my mind, far out. weighs the advantages sought to be gained by the Parishad's proposal. For, the lowering of the standard in English would disqualify our young men from receiving higher education at college and, in the case of a large number of those that are obliged to give up their studies, from filling up posts of small value in government or mercantile offices Those gentlemen of light and leading that have time and inclination to think of the welfare of those that are now at school or college would, I humbly think, do well to arrange for the better learning of English and Arithmetic so as to fit them for work in an office or elsewhere; and in going to do so nothing will be a greater mistake than the substitution of Bengali for English in the History Examination. It is desirable to think of our bread first and the cultivation of vernacular literature (which does not yet pay well) afterwards. The safer course would be to stimulate the study of Bengali (in this part of the country) without lowering the standard of English. This may be done. (r) By removing the disability under which candidates choosing to be examined in Bengali literature are declared ineligible to scholarships in the Entrance Examination. (2) By dividing the total marks assigned to the second language paper equally between Sanskrit and Bengali by raising the value of the second language afternoon paper from 40 to 60 and lowering the value of the Sanskrit paper from 8o to 6o, (3) By appointing suitable text-books in Bengali literature for the Becond language afternoon examination and confirming the examination te writing essays, summaries &c. from the text-books in addition to translation from English to Bengali that candidates are now asked to do. Much depends upon the examiners, I mean those who set papers. If they expect a detailed knowledge of Sanskrit Grammar that they now seem to do little good will come of it. Their duty should only be to see if the candidates can understand easy Sanskrit and difficult Bengali and if they can express their thoughts in simple Sanskrit and good Bengali, The
