REPORT ON EDUCATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 276, 15 May 1873, Page 6

REPORT ON EDUCATION.

We extract the following important paragraphs from Mr. Hislop's '* Rjport of the Education Department for 1872 " :—: — School Books. With a view to the carrying out of the instructions of the Board in regard to the " use of such class-books in the public school as shall give the least possible offence to Roman Catholics and other denominations of Christi ms," I have, through the Provincial Government and Home Agent, obtained copies of nearly all the school books published in Britain. At my invitation, the President and a Committee of the Schoolmasters' Associa. tion have carefully examined, along with me, these books, and also the evidence collected by the Select Committee of the Provincial Council on the petition of the j Roman Catholics of Otago. We have agreed to recommend that the use of the "Progressive Lessous " and the "Advanced Reader" of Collins " Progressive Series " be discontinued as soon as they can be replaced with corresponding books in Nelson's series of " Royal Readers," which are of very high merit, and free from all reasonable objections of any kind ; and that the first five books of Collins " Progressive iSeries," and the more elementary books of the "Royal Readers," be made use of as the several teachers may tind advisable. The Committee and I were anxious to be able to recommend the new edition of the " Irish National School Series," but after very careful consideration we were unable to do so, as in our opinion they are not all to be compared with the books we have recommended, in point of literary merit or suitableness for the purposes of school instruction. Collier's " Histories of the British Empire " are in extensive use*, throughout the Province ; and whatever reasonable grounds of objection there may have existed with regard to the earlier editions, there is good reason to believe that those grounds have been wholly removed by the striking out of passages and expressions that gave offence to Roman Catholics unnecessarily, and that the books are now such that they can be used in any school, Protestant or Catholic. I recommend, therefore, that the use of Collier's Histories be sanctioned, and that White's "Great Britain and Ireland" and the "British Empire" of Collins " Progressive Series " be discontinued in all the schools. The "Word Expositor." to which exception has,' been taken, is used only in a few of the larger schools. The objectiouabla points are few in number, and their modification would so little affect the general scope of the book, that I am in hopes the same course will shortly be taken in regard to this book as has been done by the same publishers in the case of Collier's History. At the same time Nelson's " Royal Readers " contain so many valuable "word expositions," that the "Word Expositor " may quite well be dispensed with in the District Schools, and I.therefore recommend its discontinuancefor the present. Ido not consider it necessary or wise to advise the Board to fetter the schoolmaster in his choice of text books in arithmetic, geography, and other subjects. I find that the number of different text books for any particular subject is wonderfully small throughout the province, and that the teachers generally are entitled to the credit of doing all in their power to make the cost of school books fall as lightly as possible on the parents of their pupils. There may be a very few exceptions, and I will certainly report next year all such well authenticated cases of hardship as may come to my knowledge. , Bible Reading and Religious Instruction. As far as I am able to learn in the course of my visits to the different school districts, 1 had reason to believe that the j Board's injunction in regard to the strictly carrying out of the terms of the Education Ordinance, respecting the reading of the Bible and religious instruction, had been carefully attended to by the teachers. , The time of my visit to each locality was j generally well known before hand, and there was full opportunity for any one to offer complaints as to the conduct of the teacher; but in no instance was any complaint or representation made to me of any infringinent, of the Board's injunction. In several instances I met Catholics who had children attending the public schools, and all of them seemed satisfied on this point, whatever they may have to complain of on other grounds. I had frequent occasion to admire the considerate and kindly manner in which teachers acted towards their Catholic pupils, and the great anxiety manifested by them to give no just ground of offence to these children's parents in connection with Bible reading and prayers. Tlie only complaints regarding the alleged improper conduct of teachers in connection with this matter have reached me through the Right Reverend Bishop Moran and the Reverend Father Colemrji, but as yet no fully authenticated case has been made out. These gentlemen complain that in several instances the Protestant Bible has been read when Catholic children were in the school ; and that sometimes a teacher has spoken tauntingly and disrespectfully of the Catholic faith in the bearing of

Catholic children. "With regard to th» latter complaint, I would fain hope that no teacher has so shamefully abus«d his trust as to be guilty of such higtily reprehensible conduct, and that the information upon -which any such, charge has been made was incorrect, or had been communicated to the reverend gentlemen under a misapprehension of what had been actually said or done. With regard to the reading of the Bible in the presence of Catholic children, I know of some instances where this was the practice ; but in every such case I had the positive assurance given me that such, children were present with the full knowledge and concurrence of their parents. For instance, in a somewhat remote rural district, I became aware that children whom 1 knew to be Catholics took a part in the reading of the BiMe in the school. T was proceeding to address the teacher somewhat sharply on the subject when he positively assured me that he had at first asked the children not to attend at all at that hour, and that the father had called and requested him to permit them to join in the Bible reading with the rest of the class. The teacher then put the question to me : " What am I to do in such a case? Am I to refuse the parent's positive request." With a view, however, to remove all doubt and difficulty in regard to such cases, it is desirabl« that the teacher should positively ascertain the views and wishes of Catholic and other parents, or legal guardians who, he may have reason to believe, would be likely to object to their children being present at Bible reading or prayers, and that he should be able to bring forward substantial proof of concurrence having been positively expressed, in the event of his conduct being impugned when such children attend on these occasions. It is evident that when children are permitted by the teacher to be present on the faith of the parent's verbal approval, or because he has not formally volunteered ao objecjection, such parent, in the a-brErice of positive proof to the contrary, Tnay be able to declare with some show of reason he had not been aware of what his children were doing, that he had been deceived, and that the teacher had been acting unwarrantably. Many teachers already adopt the precaution I have recommended, but it woiild be well that the same course should be followed in every school. I did not think it advisable on any former occasion to make inquiry respecting the_ religious persuasion of the pupils* parents ; but last year, though I took.no note of the exact numbers, I ascertained that Catholic children attended many of the public schools. I occasionally met the parents as members of the School Committee, and found them generally much interested in the welfare of the school aud the progress of the children. I am sure every fair and right-minded person will readily admit that every possible means should be taken to secure that the Catholic parents, who entrust their children to the care of any public school teacher, should have no jusfc ground of complaint against the teacher, or the school system, in connection with the Bible reading or prayers, the lessons read, or the oral instruction communicated in the hearing of such children ; and that, if any public teacher, through excess of sectarian zeal, lack of sense, should in this matter give just cause of offence by word or action, he is guilty of highly improper conduct, and merits the severest displeasure of the Board.

After being allowed four months to cool, the two last and largest of the heavy castings for the colossal steam hammer which is to be erected in the gun factories at the Royal Arsenal are being removed from the moulds in which they were cast at Dial Square, and conveyed towards the site prepared for the hammer. Each of these castings weighs upwards of a 100 tons, the one being the upper foundation plate (about 22 feet square), and the other the anvil block which wiH^rest upon it. '^* It is said that the acquisition of the railwrys by the State is now seriously engaging the attention of the Government ; and that an investigation is in progress — conducted by a member of the Cabinet, in conjunction with one of our ablest permanent officials — to collect the information necessary to enable the Government to come to a'conclusion as to the opportunity and the terms of purchase. It is not improbable that a beginning may be made next year with the Irish railways ; and if this negotiation proves at all satisfactory it will probably be followed by the larger operation involved in the acquisition of the English lines. Hollowmfs Pills. — A certain cure for headache, biliousness, loss of appetite and lowness of spirits Persons engaged in literary pursuits or commerce are informed that these pills can be taken without danger from wefc or cold, aid require no interrnption in business or pleasure. T hey act very mildly on the bowels, strengthen the stomach, and promote a healthy action of the liver, thereby they purify the blood, cleanse the skin, brace the nerves, and invigorate the whole system. They effect a wonderful change in a debilitated cons' itntion, as they create a healthy appetite, correct indigestion, remove inspissated bile, giddiness, headaches, and palpitation of the heart. I lain directions for the use of this medicine —at once both mild and efficatious — are affixed to each box. DR. BKIGHTS PHOSPHODYNE.— Multitudes of people are hopelessly suffering from Debility, Nervous and Liver complaints, Depression cf Spirits, Delusions, Unfitness for Business or Ktndy, Failure of Hearing, Sigh' and Memory, Lassitude, Want, of Power, &c, whose case admit of a perraenant cure by the new remedy PHOSPHODYNE. (O/:onic Oxygen), which at once allay 3 all irritation and excitement, imparts new energy and life to the enfeebled constitution, and readily cures every stage of these hitherto incurable and distressing maladies. Sold by all Chemists and Storekeepers -throughout the Colonies, from whom Pamphlets containing testimonials may be obtained. CAUTION. -Be particular to ask for Dr. Bright's PLosphodyne as imita»ions are abroad, and avoid purchasing single bot les, the genuine article being sold in. caw« only.