ON EDUCATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2797, 13 July 1866, Page 4

ON EDUCATION.

To the Editor of the Daily Sovxbjcrk C*om, Sib, — There is nothing that can wvcontributeio th«t freedom, the happiness, and the, true greatness of ,^ nation, m a thorough, eomprehensiye, and complete of instruction foY its^pebpl*. So Iwyu John.

I Bright. Every philanthropic mind will echo these I noble sentiments. To have a people thoroughly instructed should be the aim of a Government ; and to accomplish thia the blessings of education should be brought down to the very humblest ranks of society If there are individuals so circumstanced, ' who, having large families and a paucity of means, I cannot possibly afford to pay ordinary aohool fees, having perchance a great struggle to provide for the necessary physical necessities of their children--' provision should exist to meet such, cases, — cases which demand thought and sympathy. I believe that in the New England states — as else* where— it is imperative on every parent or guardian to se« that his children are instructed. Education cannot be neglected with impunity. Thus no child is allowed to grow up in ignorance. At tVe least the rudiments of learning must be obtained. The results of such legislative provision are, of course, highly beneficial. In regard to education, what is being done in this province ? It will not j|be questioned that there are in this province a great many uneducated people ; and the last year or two have not improved matters, the number of uneducated people having been largely swelled. Some of the individuals lately introduced into this country are wofully deficient in the matter of education, many being unabl* either to -read or write. Are the offspring of these people to grow up in the same lamentable state ? It is incumbent ou parents to register the birth of a child. It is also , incumbent to have the child vaccinated. Inattention to these duties involves the infliction of a' penalty. But there i» no legislative enactment' making it imperative that a child shall be instructed in the ordinary branches of education ; and there is no provision made so that the child of the indigent shall not suffer in consequence of the impoverished circumstances of its parent. I an not about to'argu* the point as to whether or not education should be compulsory ; much may be said on both sides. 'A'g a, rule, education is appreciated; and if he could afford it, many a parent would send his children to schooL He cannot do it. Perhaps there is no school in the " neighbourhood ; and if there were, he cannot afford to pay the teacher. The results are sad to contem- ■ plate. ' \ As far as the provisions of the Education . Act extend, they are exceedingly good, and have proved generally a blessing to the community. At the time' when the Act was passed, these provisionsjwtre deemed amply sufficient ; and, indeed, through them, cdnca- , tion has been introduced into many districts where children were extremely few. Such districts, by reason of the pecuniary aid given by the Board of Education, have had a certificated teacher settled in them, and have in consequence had all the advantages of more densely populated localities It will, however, be found that additional provisions will, have to be made, so as to meet the requirements of the country. 1 allude more especially to the immigrants who have been located in various settlements., As~a rule these settlements are without schools, and thus the children are remaining uninstructed. It would be no difficult matter to establish schools amongst them ; but the difficulty would be in regard to the teachers' remuneration. And at present the Board of Education can do nothing to meet such exigency. — I am, &c, . " . Wm. Mor&ax, Pukekohe, June 30, 1866.