PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17019, 16 December 1920, Page 6

PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOLARSHIP QUESTION. (SPECIAL TO "TIIE PHESS.") AUCKLAND, December 15. Candid criticism of tho amendment to the Education Act, whereby holders of national scholarships must avail themselves of the privileges of them at iStato secondary district high or technical schools, was made at the annual prize giving of King's College to-night. jluo vice-ciiairiuuu of tno Board of Governors (Mr V. J. Larner), in deprecating the fact that tho conditions did not'now allow scholarships to be utilised at private schools, said that Christ's College, Wanganui College, and King's College were surely serving a, useiui purpose and more tiian justified their existence. He thought, the Government would have looked upon them with favour, as they were relieving the Government of a deal of expenditure. That State scholarships uuust all bo taken up at State schools or State subsidised schools was ungenerous, unjust, and impolitic. Ho knew that many of the largo private schools were disliked for their religious foundation, but, in his opinion, any school that did not make provision for religion in its curriculum, would never appeal to the great body of the public, however alluring the financial aspect. Professor H. Dettman spoke- in a similar strain, and characterised the legislation as art attack on tho private school system. To some people the existence of these schools was in itself an attack on the State schools, "they wish to see a system of standardisation v.-hich can only he typified as Prussian," he protested.