THE EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 822, 25 April 1868, Page 3

THE EDUCATION BILL.

■ To the Editor- of tlie Taranaki Hkhiaxd;

"Sttt,~-^Tlto vexed question of national education is now occupying the attention of our Provincial Legislators; if thoy deal successfully, with it, ■ they will bo morq fortunate than thoir Jbrofchron iv tho British' Parliament. No one will deny, I think, that tho system Uiitllerto existing in this, Province wants mending or altogether- abolishing, aud some seusible plan of disbursing, the.,educational funds, establishing. I verily, libHeve v that tho money winch has beon spent up to' fchis''tiine, haa ,boen moro injurious than beneficial, 1 for it has tended to put a .premium upon incompetent teaching. . ," • Tho Govornmohfc Bill, which is mooting. such outsido opposition, |is.a's'top in the right direction, and far better than anything whioh hai 'b?ert yofc brought forward, ; although I think ib has not. boon framed ,for tho requirements of our Province. Tho most objocfcionablo clause is fcho ono relating to "'circular" education, "as a learned gentleman termed it,- in lately addressing a public assembly. However, I beliov,e thatjhas been modified; on Iho other, hand,, if iho jBHi pass, it will provide our schools with' competent teachers — tho most important consideration. ' ,It has boon tho' ous'tsom here, 'as elsewhere, for individuals failing in other pnrsnits, when on their " beam enda" as a dernier roasort to embraceteaching. Let them 'do this if they like," bub it is folly in Government to encbui'a'go the practice by giving them grants of money. , lv, our .littlo community thoro aro throe' classes of people whom tho .framors 9f the Bill should havo regarded, — . • 1-. Those who* are 'able and willing to pay for ■ tho education of thoir children. 2. Those who aro willing, bub not ablo to bear , the whole cxponse. ., 3. Thoso who neglect 'education altogether, and also thoso who aro too poor to contribute anything. ' To provido for claps No. &,■ one or two free sphools, might bo established in Town. ,If 'the community do this, I think that attendancq at school should bo made compulsory ; 6i* .out Council mighfc enact thafc no employer of labour shonld, undor a heavy penalty, engage any'child who was unablo to road aud wrjfce. For class No.' 2, Government mighfc pay one half the school fees. Class No. 1 will look after ,itself.. ;.',.,. • ■•} ■ ■ However, to impart a healthy tone to schools .of this description, and also to all within the ■Prbvince','l would recommend thafc £50 bo set. aßide to disfcributoiannually in prizes, to be'edmpofced for by any, pupil > within fcho Province.! If .this wasjdqneifc would impart more vigour to our ' educational syst'era than £500 distributed, as' a' present I . '--Every" teacher, would strive to bring bis.pufpilsta tho "head of the poll. "~ ■ FoiMtuo ■cou.ntry districts I tjiink the plan of I arnb.ujatory ■> schoolmasters would- sneceod, . Tho' I best ' 'authorities toll' us that' chirdren nndor twfclVo'Shoul'd have abdnt eighteen hours schbol- ' lug per Week., 'lf amid' all the difficulties of the •,fiuesb,io,n, children in .these scattered districts . obtain .fifteon, hours' taition ,pep week, I think : theyivontd bo-satisnod. ' Lotus siipposo ateacher at Bell Block from 9 ta ! l2avm. I cannot coo any hiudranop.tp' ijisT being at- Waifcanv. from 2 to !5 p.m. Omafra aad Oaknra might be combined 'iii'lbo same "way. Two' of those places united could, with a little assistance frtin^ Government,*. pay Buchsa salnry as would make' ib^lhe intorest of a. goqd, teacher to jrender tha plan , effective. A good, teacher would obtain, bettar results in 'fchroo hours 'than an incompotout' orib in five. Wishing success to tho cause,— I am, &c, ' " Ciitcur-AK.

The 1 Prince, plantod two trees in the j -Botanical Gardons on tho 2nd instant, in y vo;nmomoi-atio{i of his visit, to Now Sotith.Walpa ; '• nd on t!i,: same day, received an address frpni the_ dcpiit.iii'Mi appointed i.t tho indignation mc'.oliug. i •'lioKl ontho-2'ith ult. <■ • :i;£l '• ' ; f •'