EDUCATION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3307, 20 September 1871, Page 2

EDUCATION.

TO TIIE EDITOB OV 'ME INDEPENDENT. Siu, — Will you nllow mo space in your columns to make a few remarks in reply to the very able lettor of " Public Teacher" in jour issue of this day. It may bo that the facts which have been adduced to prove the success of tho denominational system of education, are, as he asserts, insufficient duta for the deduction of a general law. But it aeems to me that, in the latter part of his letter, "Public Teacher" is engaged in demolishing an army of Bhadows. These bigottcd enthusiasts who are ready to ruin the education of the country altogether by setting up as many miserable potty schools in every villago as there are families to bo taught — where are they ? I may perhaps lay myself open to the charge of ignorance or design ; but I must coufoss that I never met any of them. Certainly I do not tako it as a compliment to the intelligence of the order to which I.belong, if he means to say that we are capable of such a short-sighted and suicidal policy. I think I may safely affirm that this is not the case. Wo do not wish to have the denominational system brought into operation throughout the whole country : on the contrary wo are quite willing to have it limited to large |towns and to those exceptional cases where it can be satisfactorily proved that a denominational school has been doing its work thoroughly -well for a specified number of yeara. We have some such schools in existence, and we do not think it would be fair that wo should be deprived of the fruits of our labor — labor persevered in for years before the Government thought of occupying the field. We have never received any help from the public revenue;. nor do we ask for any, except as a simple act of justice, in case of any general scheme being adoptod by tho country. For, without it, wo should then bo obliged to compote, at groat disadvantage, with tho schools established and fostered by Government. With regard to the thinly- peopled districts, I, for my part, should be very sorry to sco tho denominational system tried. I want to see all parties unite to establish the best possible school, with the best obtainable master, regard only being had in the appointment to his moral character and to his powers as a toachor of secular subjects. I should bo quite content to have him forbidden to teach even the Bible/ at least in school hours. But this is a very different thing from banishing religion and religious instruction from the school-room. Against this I must protest most earnestly, because I am convinced that tho only way to make such instruction at all generally efficacious is to impart it in the common school, and during school liours. I am sure this could be managed without interfering with tho proper working of the school, and without giving us tho opportunity we are supposed to covet so earnestly, of making proselytes of our neighbours' children. All I would ask is that certain times should be set apart, during school hours, when the clergy of the different denominations, or their duly accredited substitutes, might have permission to enter the school, and gather round them for instruction those children whose parents were willing to place them uuder their teaching. lam informed tl\at this plan is in operation and found to work well in New South Wales. It is, I am convinced, all we need to ask ; surely it is not too great a boon to be graoted. "Public Teachor" seems to bo aggrieved that the Yon. Archdeacon Stock should have appended his name to his letters. I hope he will not feol hurt at my signing myself, yours, &c, B. W. Hahvey. fcSt. Paul's Parsonage, I September 18th, 1871.