THE CURSE OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7790, 9 November 1886, Page 3

THE CURSE OF EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, Recently a remarkable article on the above subject by "Colonue" appeared in your columns, Bat that " Colonua" replied to his critio in a supplementary note to his last article, I should have thought it was from the pen of another' writer than the one on Woman's Sphere" and :M The Temperance Settlement." Those two articles are liberal, the one under consideration eminently conservative. "' Colonua" is of opinion that education is powerless to prevent crime; it is merely diverted into a different channel. This is partly but not wholly true. Sir Lyon Flayfair, in a recent address in the old country, said: "As the schools had filled the gaols had emptied, till to day only 3 per cent, of those who can read and write well are found within the walla .of a gaol." "Colonus" is of opinion that the children of the poor are made more discontented with their lot in life by ' reason of the ideal life education tolls them of. Quite true; and well it is so, What power has arbitrarily fixed that it ever shall be, on the one hand, the luxurious, riotous living of the West End, and helpless increasing hopeless poverty of the east? None. In a recent address, Dr. Parker, of London, states three courses of study are necessary for the clergy of to-day—the revised Bible, English history, and a knowledge of human nature. Well won'id it be if every Anglo-Saxon were cursed 'oy such an education. That there ie an artificial level, to attain to which is a " weariness to the flesh," and merits all the condemnation "Colonue " has given, I freely admit; but, as terms were not defined,, I, for one, protest against the sweeping censure of education. Education, is a wide, deep, broad, continuous development; not confined to school, academy, or college.. Would that, in this democratic colony, era realised our responsibility here, for " From education, as the loading cause, • ? ■'' The public character it« colour draws." It has been'said that "Ignorance is the mother of devotion." That 1 disbelieve. It is, at all events, the death of true progress. The. democratic idea is bound to advance, namely, "That' a civilised people are capable of understanding and managing its own interests better than any combination of superior persons," True education, teaching fcho people how to doit, ie 9 great blessing. Increasingly the Press will be the educator of the people. . It has " A Bible whioh ueode no translation, and which no priestcraft can shut and clasp from the laity—the open volume of the world, upon which, with a pen of sunshine or destroying fire, lihp inspired Present is even now writing thtv annals of God." With the ardent hope th At all who contribute to the Press will help to Ring in the valiant nan and. free ! ,;■.<>; The ivctfec heart, the kindlier band— ... ... - ; liiqg put the 4»rkaesi o< the land » •■'. •, ,; '■ King hi the Christ that it to be ! "..-.■. And convinced that buoU an education will be a blessing.—l am, <feo». Uncle John. . , PUBLIC COMPANIES. ■ :..-! '**.-'£» TO THK EDITOR. . ".-,,,^.. w , , . : -.=^ , ;i Sir,—Under the above heading a letter appears in your : issue of the 4th instant' reflecting upon the ■ management of public

companies. In the present financial dopression and consequent losses both to shareholders and investors, in nearly every branch of business, fair and truthful oriti* ciam is justifiable., Bat whoa, the writer descends to make. public journal the vehicle of circulating false and groundless calumnies, the truth, of which he might, have ascertained by applying at the office of the company referred to, he places , himself beyond the sympathy of both shareholder* »nd the public.—lam, to., . - x Justice, Auckland, November sth, 1886. - ' r