EDUCATION.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1670, 19 April 1862, Page 3

EDUCATION.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, —In your issue of Wednesday last, was a communication under the head of Education, signed " Alfredus," suggesting that the salary of an assistant master to the Church of England Grammar School should be paid out of the Provincial fund lormed for general educational purposes. I am moved to notice this letter, for as a professional educationalist, I hold that it is right to raise my voice against so palpable a misappropriation. It is not unlikely but that sectarian hatred may endeavour to misinterpret my meaning—however, to me the path of duty is plain and right onwards. It is a manifest wrong to rob the poor to supply the necessities of the rich. The Church of England Grammar School is an establishment for the education of the wealthier or more influential classes; the poor man has neither part nor lot in the matter, —he has the option of keeping his son at home, or sending him to an overcrowdeQ school, supervised by an overworked and underpaid master. Decidedly not to the Church of England Grammar School. As the subject appears to me—this Provincial fund was set aside for the education of those classes who are unable to do it for themselves. Educational grants for the sons of the rich would indeed be a monstrosity in modern legislation unheard of among our forefathers. If the rich man choose to neglect the culture of his children—let him do so-society will not suffer much by that. The poor man's son will have a better chance, when in competition, especially if facilities be afforded him by a cheap and thorough education. The rich man, in self defence, would have to bestir himself—he would be torced to be liberal or sink. It is charly the duty and the interest of every community to assist the poor and the ignorant —a degraded poor man is a burden, and not unfrequently a pest; raise him as a social being by judicious education, and he, notwithstanding his poverty, will present in all respects a more glorified image of his maker. For nothing can be further from the Divine will than that man, with faculties so wonderfully formed, should remain an insensate being. Trusting that the fund in question will shortly be legitimately applied in elevating the educational status of the industrial poor, I have, &c, William I). Lysnah. The Lyceum, 17th April, 1862.