OUR SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 214, 1 June 1877, Page 13

OUR SCHOOLS.

Another large school has been thrown upon Catholics for support. The aid to v t. George's, Carlton, was withdrawn at the end of last month, and at the same time the chief teachers went over to the State. But the school, notwithstanding, was not closed for a day ; a new staff of teachers was immediately provided, and they are in every respect highly qualified for the duties entrusted to them. Immediately after the change there was a slight falling off in the attendance, some of the children having gone to the Government establishment, their parents being under the impression that St. George's would not be maintained. The truants have now, in almost every case, returned to their old quarters; and as the characters of the teachers have already established an excellent reputation for the school, it is certain to become more popular and larger than it has ever been. The cost of supporting it will, of course, fall on the Catholics of the district ; but in every respect they are quite as capable of performing their duty in this matter as their brethren in any other part of the colony. There are not many parts of the colony where Catholics are not making the necessary sacrifices, and these examples will inspire the Carlton Catholics to do their duty freely and generously. They cannot but feel that they are subject to oppression in being excluded from the Government schools, and obliged to support their own while taxed for the former ; but that sense of wrong from which they suffer will inflame them with a true spirit of Catholicity, with which submission to persecution is wholly incompatible. They are not likely to forget that the blow which falls on their shoulders was aimed at their faith, and then they will bear it without a thought of surrender. They Avill understand that they are tempted to sell the faith of their children for a few pieces of silver, and they will spurn the offer. And they need not be told that a greater treasure than that faith neither they themselves nor their tempters could bestow on these poor children, whom the Church is now with so much solicitude and tenderness endeavouring to shield. The Catholics of Carlton will reject the bribe as the Catholics in so many other parts of the colony have done, and when the system planned to destroy Catholicity has done its worst, the Catholics will be a united body, presenting an vinbroken front, and preserving Christianity as God's own faithful children. — Advocate.

In Paris, where the art of education is so thoroughly understood, and the health of the body is no less carefully studied than the culture of the mind, aud the Gymnasium is an institution much patronized, not only by males, but as well by members of the gentler sex, belonging to all classes of sotiety. An establishment of the kind has now been opened in Dunedin by Messrs. Long and Purmenter, and we have no doubt that persons who frequent it will speedily experience the benefit to be derived from it in increased strength of body and improved symmetry of limb.