THE EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 60, 3 May 1873, Page 9

THE EDUCATION BOARD.

In another column will be seen a series of regulations enjoined on teachers of public schools by the Education Board. They give evidence of a desire on the part of thy Board to administer the law fairly and impartially ; but will they be efficacious 1 Two years ago similar regulations were recommended — indeed, we believe, enjoined, but without success. The objectionable books remain in use to this day, as is abundantly proved by these new regulations. And, notwithstanding the good-will of the Board and its regulations, teachers are stiU to be found who feel themselves sufficiently strong to trample on these regulations, as the following letters will show (we give them verbatem) :—: — J?ev. Sib, — I have been sending my children to the — — School, to aMr , for the lust five months. All this time ho is continually tormenting them about his Bible reading ; and I have withdrew my children from his school. I told hi-n, personally, not to trouble himself about his Bible with my children ; he h:»s not done so. I hope your Reverence will look to this. Second letter :—: — Mt Lord, — I take the liberty of sending jour Lordship the enclosed letter us a specimen of rhe conduct of Protestant teachers, and the teachers of Government schools. The language of the teacher, who is the snbject of this letter, to Catholic children, and in reference to Catholic priests, is of the coarsest kind. Bishop Moran has kindly placed these letters at our disposal, and assures us they are authentic. It would appear, therefore, that in some instances at least, teachers in Government schools disregard both the Law and the regulations of the Board. Perhaps it is because they feel that after all the Board will not regard their interference with the rights of poor Catholic children with much displeasure, nor punish it, if at all, with much severity And probably, too, thej T feel themselves strong in the support of the local Committee. We notice an omission in the list of books to be superseded. Lord's Modem Europe is not mentioned, and yet, a more untruthful, more unfair, or a book more insulting to^ Catholics can hardly be found in the whole range of English literature. A few extracts from this precious book, which is, or at all events was, used in one of our public schools, to which Catholics are invited and expected to come, may not be out of place its illustrations. In page IS. — " The pretensions of the Popes were altogether unprecedented, and were maintained only by falsehood and fraud in a period of almost universal darkness and credulity." " All thu superstitions and cruelties, and acts of ten centuries had contributed to strengthen it. Yet, with all this, the Popes, in order to retain the powers of both religious and secular monarchs, were continually compelled to resort to the most shameful shifts and inventions. They encouraged idolatry, even the vice and the weakness of sensual and ignorant people." In page 1.3. — "Christendom was filled with images of

In page 18. — Julius 11, a wnrlike Pontiff, sat on the throne of St. Peter, and the ' Eternal City ' was the scene of folly, dissipation, and clerical extortion." " All crimes were to be pardoned for money." Catholics reading this tissue of faleehood and insult will find it difficut to repress indignation from expressing itself in the strong language, of anger. And yet, the enemies of justice to Catholics in education think it natural and a matter of course that we should send our children to be taught out of this and such books.