THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, January 15, 1843.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue VI, 15 January 1848, Page 180

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, January 15, 1843.

Journal* become more necouiry &• men become more •qual and individualism more to be f cured. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they aerre only to ••cor* liberty « tb«jr maintain cmtiiation. Dm TOCOSJBTJLLB. Of Democracy In America, to 1 .. It., p. 300.

The Education Ordinance, to an examination of which, as it was introduced into Council, we lately devoted a leading article, has passed with some slight modifications. 1. His Excellency the Governor has got over the fit of prudery which afilicted him on the point of the inspectorship, and has retained Che appointments in his own hands, instead of placing them in those of the ecclesiastics, as formerly proposed by him. 2. In addition to the three principal sectarian denominations (Anglican, Romish, and Wesleyan), to whose schools it was proposed to confine Stale assistance, it is now extended to such as have " a head or minister of any other religious body who shall have engaged in the education of youths in the colony of New Zealand." This is a slight improvement, but leaves us still to ask the question, Why are those schools excluded which are not under the control of the head of any religious body — those which are conducted by lay individuals or committees? We have already adverted to the fact, that the schools in this settlement, in which nine-tenths of the children receiving any education are educated, are in this position ; and we consider their exclusion most unjust and partial. We trust it will only have the effect of causing every person who has hitherto supported them, to redouble bis efforts to maintain them against the disadvantages of the position in which this ordinance places them, and that it will be made a condition in the election of the representatives of this settlement, to propose in council such an amendment of the ordinance as may permit these schools to participate in its advantages. 3. 'the appointment and dismissal of the teachers is vested in the " regligious head," under whose control the school is placed. Why should they not be entrusted to the governing body of the school, which, in Itiany instances, will consist of committees ? This/is an attempt to introduce a principle of ecclesiastical absolutism into their government, which we prophecy will be fatal to their success. 4. The whole amount to be advanced, which was left in blank in the original bill, is fixed at hot exceeding onetwentieth part of the estimated revenue.