INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11884, 6 May 1899, Page 9

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

. TO THE EDITOR. , Sir, —“ Colonist,” whilst disagreeing with me for assigning religious bigotry as tbo primary cause of the Board’s refusal to allow their inspectors to examine Catholic schools, yet affirms the justice of the request, but in his opinion the State and not. the Board should bear the expense. In other words, the educational machinery is at fault, and incomplete, so long as Catholic schools are refused Government inspection. Just so. But, to show that I was not alone in my' opinion,- let me quote, the “ Press ” on this matter—-“'Tie, North Canterbury Education Board, in refusing the request for the hispeG* tion of Roman Catholic schools, have agai* shown that they are-swayed more by feelings* of religious bigotry than by a regard fof? sound education in the district over wlaclt they preside.” Your other correspondent, “ Enlightened,” tries to show the difference between private and denominational schools, and, no doubt, does so to his own supreme satisfaction. Ho defines a private school. to be “ where one or more persons of any dcnorainiition open such school to scholars of any denomination, with out any religious restrictions,” and adds—“ This is exactly what the Catholic schools arc not, and what they dare not claim to he.” This is moss incorrect in regard to Catholic schools, for they receive scholars of aJI denominations, independent of their religious tenets, 'and, as a matter of fact, they are to bo found there at this present time. If these are samples of the facts he has volunteered to place before the public, they won’t thank him for his pains. He absolutely ignores the Cattiol’c body who has done, and is doing, so much towards supporting his Government schools, and accuses their clergy of’“.persistent stupidity.” He states that “ the Government of New Zealand have ma.de ample provision tor the education and inspection of all children.” This is another exaggeration which the “Times,” even, has vanquished, when# in a recent article, it advocated the appoint-., •nenfc of an inspector for private schools by, ilia central authority, and added —“ It ■vould be a very reasonable concession to the ('atholics, and weird repair an obvious defect in tbs present system of education.” Need I waste any mors of your valuable space, in quoting and refuting thp string of ir.isstateinents and inaccuracies which .make . up “Enlightened’s” effusion? No,,T will.

drop him, and believe that the ‘‘ enlightened public ” ho has taken' upon himselt to instruct will do likewise. I J^’ TICE . ' Christchurch, April 9, 1899.