EDUCATION IN MARLBOROUGH.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 119, 30 May 1868, Page 4

EDUCATION IN MARLBOROUGH.

; To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir,—As you have allowed me on more than one occasion to express my opinion ou matters connected with Education, I trust you will again permit me to offer a few remarks on that very important subject, though I do not entirely approve of the flippant style of your contemporary the Press, I am free to admit that the remarks you have quoted deserve the attention of every parent in New Zealand. “To deny our children Education, would be a lasting disgrace to them uud to ourselves, aud would be an injustice to the State.” Nothing can be more true; but it is something more than the labours of the schoolmaster which is so imminently needed. < I have seen in this good town of Blenheim, ou more than ono Sabbath day, the children of ; 1 can say not only so-called respectable, but wealthy parents, whose conduct would disgrace many a poor crossing-sweeper in the streets of London. Those poor creatures pursue their muddy avocation to earn an honest crust, but children of the well-to-do have not this excuse; flogging a wretched goat along the street, running about barefoot with unkempt hair and dirty faces, mixing mud pies, and drugging an old tin dish full oi dirt along the public thoroughfare, are amusements below even the conduct of a “ crossing sweeper,” especially when indulged in on the isabbulh day. 1 have had the care of providing for a large family lor some years, aud 1 know by experience all the constant care and attention necessary to the training and instruction of little children, aud 1 have no hesitation in saying that the parents who are too idle or neglectful to instruct their children in the simple rudiments of decency aud good behaviour are inflicting a lusting disgrace ou their offspring and themselves, and doing an injustice to the tHate. 1 have no pretensions to lie one of the wico guid,’’ but 1 have us much regard for the customs of civilised society as induces me to keep 'my litile ones from outraging the feelings of their neighbours hy an open desecration ot that day, which is tiy law sot apart as a day of rest. I night take ray stand on religions or moral grounds, but such considerations cun have but little weight wiiti parents who forget the eternal welfare of the infant souls committed to their charge. “ Hypocrisy,” said a learned writer, “is the homage vice pays to virtue,’’ and society has the right fo claim at least this poor tribute to the laws ol decency and common sense. Let parents shake off their upaihy with regard to the moral trailing ot their children, and then the teaching of the schoolmaster will become effective to great uud glorious ends ; but until this change is accomplished, the good sends of knowledge will be scattered in stony places aud among thorns —Yours, Acc., Paterfamilias. Blenheim, May 19th, 18(58.