DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 4099, 24 January 1878, Page 2

DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS.

Sut, — I wish to call your attention to the following statement in a sub-editorial in your issue of the 22nd, on denominational schools : — ■" Under the old provincial system, it will be remembered, efforts were mn/!c to establish such schools — notably, Presbyterian at Havelock and Meanco— but as far as possible they were discouraged." Let us take for granted that the above statement is correct, and if so, it appears that the glory of the provincial system was this : it discouraged schools, notably Presbyterian at Havelock and Meanee

whilst it encouraged schools, notably, Roman Catholic at Meanee, and notably Episcopalian at Taradale. The schools that it refused to adopt into the Government family, if they had been served with a dole of daily bread, might have been "existing," and doing their work as "satisfactorily" as the pet children of a paternal superintendent and ghostly inspector. And then latter schools, fostered by the indulgence of a Government, not impartial as it appears, you wish to perpetuate to the end of time ; and it is hoped that the present Ministry will serve them heir to some of its stray finances. It is a strange compliment to pay to a system of education, to inform the public that it ostracised schools which might be supposed to be conducted after the method of teaching adopted in Presbyterian Scotland, whilst it encouraged those that might be supposed to imitate the teaching of Roman Catholic countries. It is a pity when education is introduced that the writer should prove himself to be " notably " uneducated on the subject. — I am, &c, Alexander Shepherd.