COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND SUPERIOR SCHOOLS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1896, 30 January 1875, Page 2

COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND SUPERIOR SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib, —I quite concur with your correspondent " X.R." To briig into operation the compulsory clauses of the Act while the Board of Education cannot provide sufficient funds for teachers and buildings to accommodate those children already attending the schools, appears to me. such as might hare been contemplated by the " wise men of Gothan*' "rather than a deliberate decision to be expected from an intelligent school committee. Permit me also to draw, your attention to. the report of the Kauaeranga School Committee as published in the Advertiser this morning. In reference to the proposed Superior School they say.: " The Hoard hare recommended us to confer with the members of other : committees on the,^^ Thames on the subject, as the Board \mi think there ought to be but one superior "^ school on the Thames. This course your committee hare declined to adopt; as we believe we have beer ejected for the purpose of looking after the interests bit the Xaueranga district.; and that it is.no part of bur duty to consult other district committees when applying for that which the Education Act entitles us io look for." I think the Board of Education is quite right in this matter, and I regret to lee so much narrow-mindedness and self-con- \ ceit as is apparent in the words quoted. X The school committees of the Thames have been accused of local jealousies. If such be thecase, is it not evident that such jealousy is in the.Kaueranga District itself? Had the other Districts been consulted as proposed by the Board of Education, I can hardly think they would hare objected to the proposed Superior School in the Xauaeranga. District, as being advantageously situated for [the majority of the population. At the same time they might have recommended is a condition, that the Board should promote an amendment of the Act as early as pos-' sible giving to the present School Committees an equal voice in t£e/management of that or any other Superior School that might afterwards bo established. I am,. Sir, your obedient servant, A member of the Parawai V r ~ .. , . r . School Committee, January 29, 1874. '■],*:., n .\, ~<