THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SRT DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." TUESDAY MORNING, 5TH JUNE. THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2371, 5 June 1866, Page 4

THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SRT DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." TUESDAY MORNING, STH JUNE. THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

A beport upon the state of public education n the Province of Wellington, by Thomas A. Bowdcn, Esq., 8.A., the lately appointed Inspector of Schools, which has been laid before the Council, contains some vnluable suggestions on this important subject. The report is brief, and without entering upon details to any great length, states very clearly the conclusions which its author has arrived after a careful consideration of tho subject. While admitting that the Government by assisting liberally in the establishment and maintenance of elementary schools, has laid the foundation of a good educational scheme, Air. Bowden is of opinion that a want exists for schools affording a higher standard of instruction, which, he suggests should be supplied by the establishment of " a common middle class school in the City of Wellington, which would talce up education where it is left by the higher classes of the elementary schools, and carry it on towards such a standard as would fit scholars to enter the classes of the proposed Wellington College." '• Such a middle school," he continues, " being established in each of those districts which are the priucipal centres of population, as the City of Wellington, the Town of Wanganui, the Hutt, and ultimately one of the Wairarapa districts, would, together with the College or Grammar School in the metropolis, and the elementary school in every district, leave little to be desired in regard to public education in the Province." Tho author of this report- in alluding to the private schools and those established by the various religious denominations in the City, does not express any opinion whether or not these establishments are adequate to supply the existing educational wants, but says what is certainly true, " that however perfect their present condition may be, and however satistory the results of their present organisation, the total amount of benefit derived from them all to the community, is very inferior io that which might be derived from 1 populous central common school, in which the strength of all might be combined, and A'hieh, if properly supplemented on Sundays md holidays, by religious teaching from parents and ministers of religion, would tend to raise the intellectual standard of tho

rising generation of our citizens more fully and rapidly than any other means that can easily be proposed." Wo cordially agree with the opinions above expressed, and can also endorse Mr. Bowden's statement " that iv towns and cities where conflicting religious creeds prevail, the secular 83' stem of education almost always meets with opposition." In Victoria four years ago, it was was found that while the State grants towards education were of the most liberal character, not indeed, we believe, ever exceeded — in proportion to the population, in any age or any country — yet through the existence of two conflicting systems, the money to a great extent wa s thrown away. There was a regular scramble every year between the National and De nonainational Schools as to which should get the largest share of the grant. In every other country district or centre of population, instead of one good secular school being established, there were two or three indifferent schools, perhaps one National or Secular, and two Denominational. Thus the money which would have provided one thoroughly good secular school, with a well paid and efficient staff of masters, was fritr tered away in supporting a number of inefficient men, each teaching a small body of scholars in separate schools. Fortu* tunatcly, the Government in Wellington have steered clear of this system, by affording aid only to secular schools. We believe much good lias been accomplished in the city by private effort, but we do not think any single denominational body cau establish a firstclass school, because the cost would be too great in proportion to the number of. pupils to be educated. Nor is it probable that the different religious bodies in the city would unito to establish a secular school, but if the 1 Government did so, and thus afforded to the community the advantages of an education superior to that which could be obtained at J any other school ; we are confident that the j establishment would be well supported on all I hands. At present there is no school in j Wellington, where the sons of our merchants I and tradesmen can be properly educated. Heading, writing, and arithmetic, with a ' smattering of geography and grammar, com- j 1 prise all the education which can be secured ] for the rising generation in the capital city j of 'Now Zealand. And such elementary education is not the beat of its kind. To suppose that one man can that'll all these different branches to a large number of pupils, is absurd. If a souad education is wanted, competent teachers must be paid to undertake the different branches. What we require in Wellington, is an educational institution, similar in character and scope to the Edinburgh Academy or the Glasgow Grammar School, where all the branches of a sound commercial and classical education are taught by competent masters. English, I geography, grammar, arithmetic, mathe- ; I matics, modern languages, Latin and Greek, ( I are taught by different masters competent I in their departments, and the pupils, after ' passing through the curriculum are ready j either to enter the University, if intended • for a profession, or at once to learn the busiI ness to which their lives are to be devoted. I In either case, the boy who has been at a school of this kind, is well educated. Without any further-instruction ho is fitted for almost any career outsido the pulpit, the bar, or the profession of medicine. Should he be intended for either of these, of course there must be further special training at the University. Tn this City with its limited population we might be content with something a little short of this at first. A school with three or four competent teachers would serve as a beginning, and as the amount of suppor afforded to it increased, the organisatior could be extended and made more perfectBut while the Government might fittingly take the initiative in such an undertaking, il should be clearly ixnderstood that an institution on such a scnlc could noli be maintained unless the people supported it liberally. It is the duty of the State to educate the people, but that duty we think is nearly fulfilled when sound elementary instruction has been given. If a higher class of education is wanted, then those who wish such advantages ahould pay for them. The Government in a young community may assist in founding a Grammar School or College by granting land as an endowment, or giving a moderate yearly graut of money, but apart from this the community should do the rest. While Wellington merchants and tradesmen send their sons to be educated in Canterbury or Nelson, and while other parents possessed of leas means are unwillingly obliged to have their children half educated here, surely were a school such as we have described, established in the -Cit}', it would not lack support. Wo shall take another opportunity of referring more at length to that part of Mr. Bowden's excellent report, in which he deals with the state of education in the Province generally. For the present v. 0 have only 3et down a few thoughts which a curscry perusal has suggested. " !