INSPECTION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 35

INSPECTION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Ab a meeting of the Auckland Board of Education to consider the application from Bishop Lusk re the inspection of Roman Catholic echools, after a general discussion the following resolution was unanimously carried : — "That having carefully considered the request of Bishop Luck for the inspection and examination of "the school under his management, the board regrets that ib 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." It was stated by the chairman bhab he found only 1385 children attending the Catholic schools, while board school rolls showed 22,000. Seeing the small proportion dissatisfied with the present system of education, ib was not their duty to interfere.

Auckland, July 20. Bishop Luck has written to the tytinister for Education'appealing against the decision of the Board of Education in declining to inspect Roman Catholic schools. The Bishop says :— "I would beg you to give your favourable consideration to the following inquiries :— (1) Taking it for granted that the act has to be administered as it stands and apart from bias or fads of individual members of the board, and that the Only reasonable obstacle to the inspection of the schools in question is the insufficiency of the board's funds, would it not come within the competency of the department, to enable the board to carry out the intention of the act on behalf of the schools in question, to give a further grant-in-aid to the board. (2) Since other private schools rightly enjoy the benefit of section 98, why should the private schools in question be debarred from equal application of the law ? The fact of their being denominational schools is not a legal obstacle when 'any private school 7 comes within the meaning of the act. (3) Although with some members of the board the contingent prospect of a large increase of the funds to be paid by Government and to be administered by the board may be sufficient incentive for them to suggest the closing of these private schools, I feel confident the' Government itself is quite alive to the great saving these schools effect in favour of the colonial exchequer. It is surely, therefore, not only equitable, but ib is politic also, to encourage their existence and efficiency, if not by direct pecuniary aid at least by impartially and willingly meting oub to them the small measure of recognition contemplated by the act. (4) By this means the Government; and people of .this colony will have a sufficient guarantee that the secular instruction given in private schools is fully abreast of the requirements of the age in an ' especial manner. Parents (of all denominations), who for thtir own 'good reasons prefer a private to a public school, and who pay the Government thoir quota of taxation for the education of their children, are entitled to the benefit of this guarantee of efficiency provided for by the aot, whilst the children who mostly frequenb these private schools have the most urgent claim that by these same means their prospects in life should not be injured for want of sufficient certificates."