INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9257, 20 July 1893, Page 5

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

We are requested to state that tho resolution of the Auckland Board of Education, in reply to the request made by Bishop Luck with reference to the inspection of his schools by the Board's inspectors, and which appeared in our columns yesterday, has been forwarded to him by Mr. V. Rice, the secretary of the Board. It appears that the Bishop docs not intend to let the matter rest there. He has forwarded to us for publication the following communication, which tells its own talc :—

To the Hon. W. P. Reeves, Minister of Education.

Hon. and dear Sir,—The Auckland Board of Education have forwarded to me the following resolution :—""Resolved, that having carefully considered the request of Bishop Luck for the inspection and examination of the schools under his management in this district, the Board regrets that it. cannot undertake the further responsibility of providing for the inspection and examination of schools other than those established as public schools and under its administration. I must therefore adopt the only alternative that remains to me, which is to appeal to the head department, and I would beg you to give your favourable consideration to the following inquiries : — 1. Seeing that the Education Act, 18//, Section 98. gives the manager of " any private school" the right to look for Government inspection, is the resolution of the Hoard conformable to the intent of the Act? which says :

P>. Where the teacher or managers of any private school desire to have their school Inspected by an inspector, such teacher or managers may apply to th*> Hoard to authorise such inspection, ami the same, when Authorised, shall he conducted in like manner as the inspection of public, schools.

'2. Taking; it for granted that the Act has to be administered as it stands, and apart from the bias or the fads of the individual members of the Board, and that the only reasonable obstacle to the inspection of the schools in question is the insufficiency of the Hoard's funds, would it not come within the competency of the Department to suable the Hoard to carry o.it the intention of the Act on behalf of the schools in question, by a further giant in aid of the Hoard? 3. .Since other private schools rightly enjoy the benefit of the above cited section 98, why should the private schools in question be debarred from an equal application of the law ? The fact of their being denominational schools is not a legal obsticle, when "any private school" comes within the meaning of the Act. 4. Although with some members of the Board the contingent prospect of a large increase of funds to be paid by the Government, and to be administered by the Hoard, may be » sufficient incentive for them to suggest flip closing of these private schools, I feel confident that the Government itself is quite alive to the great saving that these schools effect in favour of the Colonial Exchequer. It is surely, therefore, not only equitable, but it is politic also, to encourage their existence and efficiency, if not by direct pecuniary aid, at least by impartially and willingly meting out to them the small incisure of recognition contemplated by the Act. , . 5. By this means the Government and the people' of this colony will have a sufficient guarantee that tin; secular instruction given in private schools is fully abreast of the requirements of the age In an especial manner the parents (of all denominations) who, for their own good reasons, prefer a private to a public school, and who pay the Government their quota of taxation tor the education of their children, are entitled to the benefit of this guarantee of efficiency provided for by the Act, whilst the children who frequent these private schools have the most urgent claim that by these same means their prospects in life should not be blighted for want of sufficient certificates. Hoping tor a favourable reply. I remain, Hon. and dear sir, yours respectfully and faithfully, tJoilN Edmund Luck. Bishop of Auckland. Bishop's House, Ponsonbv, Auckland, July ID, 1893.