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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1155, 24 May 1870, Page 4

Sib,— lt is as certainly the duty of each individual parent to see that his children are educated, as it is his duty to see them fed. When the parent' is unable, or wilfully neglects to' supply food to his offspring, the State interferes; and so it ought to bo with regard to education. Looking at the matter from this point of view, it is evident that when education is placed within reach of the individual, ho ought to be compelled to allow those depending on him to participate in the benefit ; and also that the schools which specially deserve support from Government (if any deserve it) are those which have for their object to make the community at large acquainted with the branches which it is conducive to the welfare of all that every one should learn. ■ The following extracts on this subject | are from Chambers's Information for the Peoi^e, a work which is recognised as an excellent authority, especially on everything connected with Social Economy : — "lieading, grammar, and arithmetic, the elements of geography, history, and science, and moral training, should form the chief features of the business of a primary school. And to this extent all should be educated. It follows, then, that infant and primary schools ought to be special subjects of state provision and ! care. Society is expressly interested in seeing all children trained and instructed thus far, that they may become a moral and intelligent population. So strongly is this regarded in Prussia that education, up to the point in question, is enforced by law. Certainly it is at least Well to encourage parents by all means consistent with the spirit of a free country, to have their children educated to this extent. While the State, then, regulates the education of infant and. primary schools, the State should also furnish it gratuitously, or all but gratuitously, thus removing all difficulty which may be felt by indigent individuals — th 6 very class whoso children are apt to become dangerous if-left uneducated. It has often been objected to tho idea of gratuitous education, that what is obtained for nothing is not valued; but the education furnished by the State,— or, as an alternative, by local assessment, would not be really gratuitous.j .Every parent would know that he contributed to the fund by which the school was supported. — I am, &c,