HOUSEHOLDERS, ATTENTION!

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 95, 23 April 1889, Page 2

HOUSEHOLDERS, ATTENTION!

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Kindly allow me, through your columns, to call attontion to the annual meeting of householders for the election of committees under the Education Act, advertised for this evening. If parents valued their privileges as they should, every building would be taxed to its utmost capacity ab these annual meetings. At them, in discharge of the routine business, a good opportunity is afforded for the expression of public opinion on various matters affecting the improvement or stability of the system. Tho press informs us of grave dangers ahead, tho principal one being the Premier's wish, now ho holds tho portfolio of Minister of Education, to favour denominational education. Against such a'proposal tho householders should raiso an emphatic No.

As clearly expressed by Dr. Bruco, Chairman of the English Congregational Union, " Education is more than ecclesiasticism. Institutions managed exclusively by a party and for party purposes should be purely voluntary in every sense of the word, that; is, supported wholly by the party, and not subsidised from national funds."

No, sir, I feel confident that if our citizens will only look ab this proposal in its seriousness they will never sanction it, and will speedily sond to political oblivion any supposed statesman who would advocate it. ''Happily wo are free from this incubus, and let us maintainor freedom. In the old land leading mon are admiring our system and hoping to see its adoption ere long. Speaking recently, the Right Hon.

James Stansfield said a denominational system could not, in the nature of things, be compulsory and complete ; and if not compulsory and complete, it could not provide for the needs of the people. The denominationalists were not unfrequently thinking of their churches when they were talking of their schools." The proposal to abolish the school Boards should, I think, belooked on with disfavour; we have centralisation enough already. School books should be uniform throughout the colony. Some educational authority has recently said that this is impossible. Why? because it would lessen the profits of trading teachers. School teachers should not be allowed to have the monopoly of supplying school requisites ; this is growing to be a crying evil. It is scandalous that parents cannot provide their children with requisites from where' they please. I know of a "case where a teacher would not allow a child to bring a lead-pencil from its father's shop. By what authority are these things done ? The school syllabus should be revised ; at present we are ruining our children's health in order to cram them. This is not education nor instruction.

I have had to remonstrate with a teacher (the system is to blame, not the teacher) for giving home lessons occupying the whole available time from afternoon school to nino and half-past nine p.m., the child having to put a wet cloth on her head to get to sleep. These and other matters should occupy the time and attention of the householders.

"Oh," says Mr Easy, " what's, the use? We are not electing: members of Parliament; we can't change the laws." You may express your opinions, and frame resolutions, and elect committees who will forward them to the proper authorities. All the power is in tho hands of the people. Throw off your lethargy, cease looking to professional politicians, apply yourselves to your duties, discharge your responsibilities, and soon your voice will be heard. —I am, etc., Southern Cross.