CAPITATION TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 907, 19 July 1889, Page 27

CAPITATION TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Thebe appears to prevail a good deal of misconception as to the real nature of Mr Vincent

Pyke’s Private Schools Bill, which was thrown out by the House of Representatives early yesterday w< ek by a majority of only 12. To judge from many of the comments made on that Bill both inside the House and outside, one would imagine that it was a measure for establishing a host of independent schools, subsidised by the State, but virtually free from all State control; having a totally different curriculum from that of the regular State schools ; a separate standard of qualification for teachers ; merely a nominal subjection to Government inspection, and a right to draw regular subsidies from the Government to use practically at their own sweet will without being in any substantial sense accountable. That is re ry much the sort of picture which some, at any rate, of the Bill’s opponents conjured up. That was the bogey which was held up to frighten the House and the country. The State Bystem of education was to be exposed to a most formidable attack from a dangerous rival, and was to “ go under ” in the contest. Against this terrible bogey were most of the adverse arguments directed —not against Mr Pyke’s Bill at all! For had they been aimed at that Bill they would have been so ridiculously irrelevant that one could not imagine their being adduced by anybody who had really taken the trouble to read the Bill. And, by the way, Hattie people read the Bill itself—we do not mean exaggerated caricatures which have done duty for it in so many instances—do they know what that Bill actually proposed ? We doubt it very much. But we will tell them. We will reprint the whole ofit from beginning to end, and invito its more attentive perusal. The following is the full text of the Bill: —“ Whereas it is desirable to extend the benefits of the Education Act, 18'<7, to schools maiutaiuod by private bodies or individuals: Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parlia-

liament assembled, and authority of the same, as folk The short title of this A< Private Schodts Act, 1889. private school which io or n after be conducted in accords the provisions of the Educa 1877, and the Acts amer dattfe,- and the regulatiom theitebinder,' in respect of the tions of teaChers,- the eotirse o tion, attendance asf school, ar tion by an inspector at the Education, shall be entitled a capitation allowance equal fcb® allowance granted ! schoola established under Acts i provided that no su shall be entitled to such UniWsC the average number attending th& d&m# bo ■■■ Here is the whole of £ Guy Fawkes of a Bill whi blow our entire education s high ! It is surely a poor c to the system to assert tha on 1 Stie'b a frail and insecuri tioii Ms W bC Capable of ! by so » fcoiicb l help thinking that Mr Pyfee erred somewhat in ei£'& • that the extreme bitterness mark* aroused opposition Bill, lees fiercely champi< not have excited. It was utterances, we suspect, i his Bill, against which se bers spoke and Voted. "V because in the Bill itself found much that its op sailed. The effect of the provide that the present S should be supplemented b private schools, which i every respect equal in effic State Schools, and conduct same lines, with the satr study by equally qualified entitle them to a grant, provided that there si minimum standard of altt number being left blank ment to fill up—and fault of such minimum b no grant should be given, viitually provided that t should be only a fractioi to the State schools—a being left here for the pi tion to be determined 1 All these conditions a gent. It is not easy to manner the present systf been injured by the ad proposals. As we point previons article on the only difference between private schools and the would be that the forme the teaching which the 8 (and not instead of it) religious instruction, contended that the add) instruction would rear education any less el such a system of con: and secular teaching w pupils any worse citizt education had been The sole objection s vague dread lest in so way the change—or should prove fatal < system. We cannot this as an unworthy distinct slight on tb of the system. Di( Pyke’s proposal in tl should strenuously c fail to see that tl ranted. At all ever ground for such a i underlying suapicio generally might prr did not exclude relij would consequently sidised schools rath ones. This, howevt damaging adsnissio quite unsupported 1 We regard the different light. Ii Private Schools Bil a valuable adjunct the existent syste relieved what nu present congestioi saved the State r shape of jnew schu are needed to act creasing populati long be supplied, relieved the burr substituting a sma in lieu of the full follow that all tl would of necesait ligious body, or e teach religion avowedly atheist been equally ent the grant provid the law’s require method and eff