THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 23, 4 August 1887, Page 2

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Mr Locke’s utterances on the above question at his meeting the other night were possibly unheard by the greater part of his audience, otherwise we feel certain that very marked signs of disapproval would have been evinced. Mr Locke’s ideas of retrenchment on the education vote are that a fee of two shillings a week should be charged to all pupils attending the fifth and sixth standards and that the education reserves should be nationalized. There may be some slight advantage to be gained by the latter project, although we doubt it, but as to the former, we contend it is ridiculous and absurd in the extreme. A great many people are talking glibly about the cost of the fifth and sixth standards, who, like Mr Locke, evidently seem to understand nothing at all of What they are talking about. We have obtain 'd statistical information in reference to this question by which we think we can prove to our readers that the fifth and sixth standards are far from costing what careless, unreasoning speakers would have us believe, and, in our next issue, we intend to show the public what a reduction of the system to the fourth standard would really mean. We say “a reduction to the fourth standard ” because we are morally certain that the imposition of such a fee as Mr Locke proposes would result in the abolition of the two upper ones. This education question is one of the big points at the present election, and we want the electors to jealously guard against any would-be successful attacks upon the system which has worked so well, and for the maintenance of which in its integrity we all ought to be prepared to make a serious sacrifice. Let the Colonists beware before they deprive their children of the most glorious heritage a child can possess—a good education. This upper standard cry is an insidious and stupid attack upon the whole system, and should be resisted manfully.