SIR ROBERT STOUT ON EDUCATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 776, 14 January 1887, Page 24

SIR ROBERT STOUT ON EDUCATION.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, January 8. At the dinner of the Educational Institute last night Sir Robert Stout explained the position of the Government with reference to education. The Government had to meet the decreasing revenue, and must, if the present education system was to be retained intact, take care not to create additional enemies to the system, especially by increasing the cost very much. He was glad to state that Government saw its way to the establishment of a University College at Wellington. He believed it would not involve much increase in the expenditure, because it would utilise the Museum and the scientific department already kept up there. Referring to the school standards, he said they were safeguards for the teacher, who knew what his inspector would examine on and the instructions he had to follow, and in case of failure the teacher had no appeal. He did not deny that there was great danger in multiplicity of subjects. He said all along that the syllabus was only meant as a guide to the judicious teacher and inspector. While not considering it the duty of the State to teach religion in schools, he sympathised with those who urged that morality should be taught. At the same time he admitted that no one could go through onr text books without finding moral teaching. He had heard it said that children were wanting in reverence. Perhaps that meant that some boy had been “cheeky” to the person who complained thus. If, however, children had reverence for the truth, every other kind of revo.renoo worth having would follow.