SCOTS COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 54, 27 November 1929, Page 13

SCOTS COLLEGE

Sir, —It is a well-known fact that a private college very rarely returns a substantial margin of profit. The primary object of a private college is to set a certain standard of education and endeavour to bring up to that standard all pupils entrusted to its care. It may combine instruction in the religious, moral, and social classes with a thorough, education in all other respects and it may »dd to this a splendid training in sport and athletics. It is for the college to set the standard and for the public to judge its worth'. If the standand set is good, then the college is carrying out its primary object in maintaining that standard. The financial, side of the college is really of secondary importance and if it be found that, owing to a temporary drop in the number of pupils attending the college, its financial position becomes momentarily embarrassed, is tins a matter -which should cause those in power to close the college? Most certainly not. What, theu, should be done? An appeal should be made, not to a small portion of the community, but to every citizen who has any pride in his Dominion. Our Mother Country is well filled with private colleges whose reputation is worldwide. Who knows what storms of financial "stress have been weathered by those fine old institutions. . If our private colleges are permitted to close up, we will be left with State schools as- the only means of education. Every State school aims at the same standard of education; all State schools are run on similar lines; all pupils are educated in the same manner and with the same object, viz., to reach"that stereotyped standard of education which is set up as the ideal one by the controlling authorities. I do not meaji to suggest for a moment that there are any faults in the State schools in New Zealand, but I do suggest that to have every child in New Zealand educated upon the same lines and up to the same standard year after year would be a national disaster. Individuality is the greatest blessing of society, and what is more destructive of individuality than the education of every child on the same lines. As an old boy of Scots College, I can truthfully say that its standard of education and the principles instilled into all who’ attend that college, are in all respects right. In saying this I feel sure ’ I am expressing the opinion of all old boys" who have passed through the college. I would, therefore, place my humble opinion upon record in the hope that it will induce a few more public-spirited citizens to come to the aid of those who are making such strenuous efforts to save the college and thus avert what might lead to a national disaster.—l am, etc., ' OLD BOY AND CITIZEN.