New Zealand Tablet Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY. JUNE 1, 1877. THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 214, 1 June 1877, Page 10

New Zealand Tablet Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY. JUNE 1, 1877. THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

OifE of our contemporaries — the Dunedin Evening Star — has recently had a leader on the subject of Education, which gives evidence that the editor's mind is in a state of pro- | gress towards the concession of justice to a large section of

his fellow subjects. He is clearly of opinion that it is not just, or politic, or commonly decent, for one section of the community, because it happens to be in the majority at present, to put its hands into the pockets of the minority, and extract hard cash for its own exclusive benefit. Tb*e editor of the Evening Star has not, indeed, altogether r abandoned his proclivities in favour of free, compulsory, and secular education. But these have undergone a considerable modification; and for this we, as Denoininationalists, are thankful. The editor of the Evening Star proposes that Government should establish purely secular schools, not everywhere, if we understand him rightly, but wherever there may not be a sufficient number of private schools, including under this head Denominational schools; that education should not be free, except for such as are unable to pay fees ; that Government schools shall enjoy no advantage over private schools which may be willing to become subject to Government inspection ; that so much per head shall be allowed by Government for all pupils who attain a certain standard of proficiency ; and that the attendance at school of all children, from five to fifteen years of, age, shall be compulsory. This is, we think, a fair outline of the propositions of the Star. On principle we are opposed to compulsion, and we think the end aimed at by its supporters could be obtained in a more natural and a wiser way. But, nevertheless, we do not think there would be any insuperable objection on the part of Catholics if the ideas of the editor of the Star, with two amendments, were carried out, embodied in law, and loyally enforced. The two amendments, to which we refer, were probably in the mind of the author of this leader when he was writing it. In order that Government schools should enjoy no advantages over private and Denominational schools willing to submit to Government inspection, provision should be made for the training of teachers for these schools, as well as for those of Government schools ; and a better arrangement should be made as to the election of school committees than exists at present. On these two points our Legislature would do well to follow the example of English legislation. In England the several denominations have their own training schools ; and the Government grants annually a certain sum per head for all trained teachers who pass the examination required by law. This appears to be a most just and politic arrangement. There would be no difficulty in carrying it out in this colony. Then as to the school committees, every precaution is taken to at once secure a representation of minorities, and of public opinion. In order to the first, cumulative voting is allowed, and. to secure the second, the ballot is resorted to, and voting papers are left at the houses of all ratepayers, and, when signed, collected, and the votes counted by responsible persons. It strikes us that the system proposed by the editor of the Evening Star, modified by the two amendments we have just now stated, would secure justice to all, and meet the equities of the question in the present position of the colony. It would certainly give satisfaction and content to all, with the exception of a very few rabid secularists, secure for every man the expenditure of his own money in the way he desired, and save the Government from an expenditure which it could not honestly meet. We shall be glad to hear what the Evening Star has to say further on this very important subject ; and we rejoice to find that the discussion of this question is likely to lead a satisfactory conclusion. As for ourselves, we can say that we are prepared to accept any compromise that does not call on us to sacrifice principle, and that, this saved, we shall heartily co-operate in working with the Government, and our fellow citizens, in promoting, in every way in our power, the education, of the people.