Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1920 FREE EDUCATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 23 February 1920, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1920 FREE EDUCATION

IT can he §aid without tear of contradiction that in no other place in New Zealand are the opportunities for the education of children to the university dandard more favourable than

they are in Nelson. The city is fortunate in its teachers in the State schools and heyond .them- are institutions where studies can he continued under 'most favourable conditions. And iwhat is more important is that I the continued education is free, provided a. certain standard is readied. There have been many arguments for and ! against the free place system, | but after all is said and done, | what; more effective way is 1 there, in aiming at the goal of ‘equality of opportunity, than giving every boy and every ■girl an education according to their energy and intelligence. And from the point of vieV of the State there is grievous loss, if the trained intelligence of the nation' is selected only from families who can afford to pay heavily for their children’s education Admiral Fisher has some home-truths in his recent publications. “We fight Ood when our Social system dooms the brilliant*: clever, child of the poor man to the same level as bis father. Speaking of the Navy, but his remarks apply to the nation generally, he said that no parent with less than nearly £IOOO a year can now send his hoy into the Navy as an officer,* Tic says; Combined with the cost of the subsequent training, our present system—the exclusive system distasteful to democratic sentiment—absolutely excludes all hut a very fpnall fraction of the population from serving the King as naval officers. It admits the duke’s son if he is fit, hut it excludes the cook’s son whether he is fit or not. It ought to admit both, but only if both are fit.”

The Admiral’s main .contention is this “Lot every fit hoy have Ids ehanee irrespective of the depths of hi s parents’ purse,’ The nation requires the services of the best brains that are horn to it, and this eari he secured only by eliminating the monetary factor.