THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIII, Issue 992, 30 December 1856, Page 3

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

I To the Editor of the Southern Cross] Sir, — Agreeingßith those gentlemen who have attached their nameTto the Pamphlet o¥ Education that the denominational system is the best tljat can be devised for this Province ; still, to my mind their method of carrying it out is objectionable^^', the following reasons : ' "^p* ' - Ist. All common schools in the Province, by lo wering their weekly fees, might partake of its bointy, however prosperous or MJfjSk to support thnnselres, while the thinly peopled districts would remain S3 hitherto without Education. 2nd. By going^to the Provincial Council fo an annual vote. Education will become a party questioi, stirring up the worst feelings in the Province. 3rd. By proposing to receive the money, for secular Education only, while tbjttchools profess to'oe religious schools, however hononffle or upright thelmotive, it will be looked upon by one class oi the caiqnunity as hair-splitting, and by another with paiaMlecause it introduces expediency into the question.4B\ To my mind the following method would w far preferable in carrying out the denomination il syjtem A general rate should be levied for Education, men rate to acate the denomination to «Bi he belonged ; the Provincial Government to appoint some tie to rg|| ceive the rate, and divide it to each of the dmominajE tions. The names of the rate-payers would bla sufflW cient guarantee that each denomination wuiilurece||g| the whole paid by their members. Each of the^enffimp nations should appoint a Board of Educationlfor tliemanagement of their share of the rate; whenjso apnr pointed the fundg^should be handed over to ihm, and there should end the control of the Provincial Government. This method would remove that fear exiressed by many o the political bearing of the questioi. No denomination could feel ill-used, or complain! Its simplicity would make it inexpensive in its wfking. It would leave all denominations strong, becausl they would not have sacrificed principle for expeqency. Each of the denominations could appoint an inaector from amongst its own members, paid or otherwilp ; as the fun^s would come out of their own pockes, no

I doubt they would see they were propeily applied. I There might be a few rate-payers belonging to none ot I the denominations"; they would ha\ e a preference to I some one of them. To raise the sum specified in the Pamphlet, the rate would be bo tiiflingtuat no one could complain. Not having seen the Educational Bill now before the Provincial Council, by inserting the above remarks in your columns you Will oblige Yours, &c, Wix-mam Atkins. Taraaki, Dec. 23, 1856.