Letters to the Editor.

Marlborough Express, Volume XII, Issue 945, 15 August 1877, Page 7

L ette rs to the Editor.

♦»* The Editor is desirous of affording every reason. able facility for the discussion of public subjects : but it must be understood that he is m no way responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. Sir, — Will you oblige me by printing m your nexb issue the accompanying extract from Mr Jno. Stuart Mill's Political Eonomy, Peoples Edition page 577 — Yours &c, Jos. Ward. "I hold it therefore the duty of the Government to supply the defect by pecuniary support to elementary schools, such as to render them accessible to all the children of the poor, either freely prior a payment too inconsiderable to be seriously felt. One thing must be strenouusly insisted on ; that the Government must, claim no monopoly for its education either m the lower or m the higher branches ; must exert neither authority nor influence to induce the people to resort to its teachers m preference to others, and must confer no peculiar advantages on those who have been instructed by them. Though the Government teachers will probably be superior to the average of private instructors they will not embody all the knowledge and sagacity to be found m all instructors taken together,- and it is desirable to leave open as many roads as possible to the desired end. It is not endurable that a governmentishould either m law or m fact, have a complete . control over the education of the people. To possess such a control, and actually exert it, is to be despotic. A government which can mould the opinions and sentiments of the people from their youth upwards can do with them whatever it pleases. Though a government therefore may and m many cases ought to establish' schools and colleges, it must neither compel nor bribe any person to come to them ; nor ought the power of individuals to set up rival establishments, to depend m any degree upon its authorisation. It would be justified m requiring from all the people that they shall possess instructions m certain things, but not m presenting to their view how or from whom they shall obtain it." ■August 11, 1877.