INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11870, 20 April 1899, Page 6

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It was with much astonishment I read in this morning’s “ Times ” a leaderette under the above heading approving of the refusal of the North Canterbury Education Board, to allow their inspectors to •examine the Catholic schools. Not only this, but you abuse those of your contemporaries for upholding the righteousness of the Catholic claim, and declaring boldly the cause of the Board’s refusal to be religious bigotry. Now, I may tell you, in addition to your contemporaries, as a colonist of over thirty-four years’ standing, that the Catholics of that part of Canterbury over which this (in your estimation) honourable and educationally immaculate body temporally rules, are perfectly satisfied that religious bigotry, and that only, is the sole cause why their application for Government inspection has been refused, and they are equally certain that had the application come from the manager or responsible head of any other private school, be he Jew or Gentile, provided the Catholics were not benefited, the application would be granted. The deep hatred which the Board’s ex-Cbairman always displays to everything Catholic, whenever opportunity offers, is well known throughout the colony, and it was his casting vote which deprived justice being done to thousands of the rising generation on this occasion.

Last June, when this question was before the Board, the same individual Chairman strenuously opposed (but was defeated) a resolution that private schools should be subject to annual inspection and examination by the State, though he is reported also to have said “ that he thought the Board took the right step when it offered that its inspectors should inspect private schools. But now he opposes an application to examine a section of these schools. Why? Because they are Catholics. He and those who voted with him are ■ keen observers, and no doubt Lave noticed that wherever Catholic schools have been examined by Government inspectors throughout the colony their pupils have achieved more than satisfactory results in secular knowledge. Do they fear similar results here, and, if so, would it detract in any way from their system of purely secular education ?

You are not correct when you say “ the Roman Catholics have struck out a different scheme to that established by the Board.’’ For years past they have been educating their pupils in accordance with Government standards, and they have been examined accordingly bv the Diocesan Inspectors. Visit the Convent and Marist Brothers’ Schools in this city, and see for yourself. The geographies, grammars, arithmetics, and in most instances the readers, are almost all TV hi! combe and Tombs’ publications, and the children are taught from these books during the same hours as in Government, schools. I believe that the liberal and enlightened public, if correctiv informed of the class of education imparted in these schools, would rise above sma.ll, narrow-minded bigots, and grant them Government inspection, if in their power, “Fair Play” draws attention to a statement of Mr Saunders re inspectors working for those (Catholics) who do not pay them, and deals sufficiently and satisfactorily wiib it, notwithstanding your special pleading. Equally futile and inexplicable are the reasons given by the other onponents of this most reasonable demand. Mr Adams says “ No funds were provided for the inspection of private schools.” How childish! Mr Rennie says—“ The Board’s Inspectors should not be sent to examine schools the teachers of which were not under the Board’s control.” What does this signify so lone as the Board’s instructions are 'faithfully carried out, and the examining Inspector testifies to the discipline and required standards of efficiency? Mr Peryman’s objections ire on a par with Mr Rennie’s, whilst Mr Weston urges want of time on the part of the inspectors. Supposing Catholic children attended, the Board’s schools, what then? No doubt Mr Weston will say—“ Send them along, and we will then supply not only inspectors, but extra school accommodation. , In other words, we want to force you. against your will, and contrary to what you believe to be a solemn duty, to hand them over, to us to educate as we like. In a word, we want to' exterminate all Catholic, schools.” But Catholics have before to-day suffered persecution, and they are prepared to do so again if necessary, for their schools and conscience’ sake.—l am, etc.', April 18, 1899. JUSTICE.