MORMON SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14929, 29 February 1912, Page 5

MORMON SCHOOLS.

"PRIVATE," NOT "NATIVE."

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. Some time ago the Wellington Education Board had its attention drawn to the fact that a native school in Pirinou was being conducted by Mormon elders. Tho question of its inspection arose, and the Board wrote to tho Education Department regarding tho need for inspecting schools conducted by Mormon elders, and attended by .Maori children. Tho Inspector-General of Schools (Mr. G. Hogben) replied that as far as the Department had been able to ascertain, the controlling authorities of Mormon schools did not offer any objection to inspection. On the contrary, they invited it.

"There are, however," said the inspector-general, "two points in connection with the proposed inspection that seem to require somo consideration. In the first place the schools in question would be more properly classified as "private" schools, rather than "native" schools, inasmuch as the religion of the children, and not their race, is the determining factor. If this view be adopted, tho schools in question must be treated by the Board in the same way as all other private schools !in the district are treated. In the second place the proposed inspection does not seem to the Department to come under its control. The question has been raised because certain children living within a school district are not attending the Board s school established in that district. It seems to bo rather a matter for the Board. Tho foregoing letter was read at the Board's meeting to-day. and received. -'