Thames Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1936. CROSS-CUTS ON EDUCATION.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19604, 9 January 1936, Page 2

Thames Star

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1936. CROSS-CUTS ON EDUCATION.

"With malice towards none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right."—Lincoln.

"The dangers now imminent through the increase of secularism 'on the one hand, the pressure of State Control on the other, and the possibility of the adoption of a radically vicious educational policy" was the presumptive introduction ycslerday to a Press Association message from Auckland dealing with an address at the Catholic Teachers' Conference by the Very Rev. Father J. C. Thompson, Director of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Strong exception can be taken to every phrase in the words quoted, which, of course, are not wholly to be attributed to the Rev. Father Thompson. In the first place, there is no danger or imminence of increased secularism. The trend today is the very antithesis of that, and it is a grand thing to note that the world, sickened by the problems created by a decade of rank materialism and selfishness, the outcome of economic disorder caused by the Great War, is turning more to the spiritual and nobler purposes of life. The alleged "pressure of State Control" is another myth, considering that a measure of state control is the natural implication of all government in some degree, and we fail to see that any "pressure" can be assumed concerning the newly-elected New Zealand Government, seeing that it has taken the Treasury Benches with an overwhelming mandate from the people of this country, but has not yet operated. If by "pressure" the compiler of the words meant that the new reghn,e intends to do its duty by serving the best interests of the Dominion and helping to lift it from the economic doldrums and needless class poverty, then the term is quite in proper form. The third sentence, suggesting the possibility of "the adoption of a radically vicious educational policy," is, to say the least, extreme in tenor, for, despite the need for radical administrative changes in education policy in our fair Dominion, there has been no hint that the Government proposes anything in the nature of what may be styled "vicious," and we do not think that the Rev. Father Thompson, who naturally believes in the virtues of Catholic education, inferred anything beyond a literal warning for the benefit of his hearers. The Public or State School system of New Zealand, with all its alleged faults, has stood the test of time as an essential institution, and we feel sure that it has valuably served its purpose and will continue to do so, as in other countries. There are many Roman Catholics in the Dominion who have gone through the State Schools and can testify to the value and influence of education received. At the same time, ali must give credit to Catholic people who have supported their own schools and have made a sacrifice in keeping with their religious beliefs and duties. With regard to the blemishes in our public school examination system, to which the Rev. Father referred, no doubt the Government already has this in view. At the same time, it is hard to see how the higher external examinations could be substituted in connection with the public school system, which is founded on fairness to all. If some simpler method could ]be devised for selecting candidates or assessing their merits for scholarship or pass, no doubt it would be tried. However, we cannot see that the present public school system has a tendency to direct Catholic scholastic effort towards the requirements of such external examinations. There has to be a standard set, no matter what the system or the examination. It is, indeed, a very big question, and even at the presont time the examination system in England is under scrutiny. At the same time it is not out of place to state that avc believe that the aim of education should be spiritual and not material —a preparation for life and not for a living. Perhaps, as our Catholic friends have it, the two purposes should be combined.