WHAT ABOUT THE EDUCATION BILL?

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 30, 18 November 1887, Page 16

WHAT ABOUT THE EDUCATION BILL?

HEN shall Mr. Pyke be able to move the second reading of his Bill in reference to Catholic schools ? The time at the disposal of this hon. gentleman will, it is to be feared, be insufficient for a discussion on a BUI even bo short as is his, and Parliament will have too much to do to piovide ways and mears between now and Christmas to be able to give much attention to anything else. The chances, therefore, in fatour of Mr- Pyke's more are small, and daily becoming

beautifully less. It is said that the Premier is in favour of the principle of Mr. Ptkk's Bill, and we dare say there is some truth in this report. But does this imply that he is favourable in his official capacity, and that he is disposed to make it a Cabinet question ? If so would it not be wise to wait till next session? Probably, then Government would have maturely considered thp question, and would come down to the House with a well-digested Bi 1, calculated to settle the question finally for many years. Mr. Pyke's Bill proposes to give Catholics a very small instalnvnt of justice, which, if granted, we shall, of course, accept, and do the Lest we can with it, on the understanding, however, that we shall ask more in due time. At the present moment we get nothing for all the money we pay for public education, but we maintain our independence. Under Mr. Pyke'i Bill, however, we should be placed in the humiliating position of receiving only two-thirds of the capitation nllowance granted to godless schools,and no building allowance, nor any share in scholarships. We fail to see that two-thirds of tbe usual capitation al'owance would be much compensation for the loss of that amount of independence which the Bill now before Parliament demands of us. Were our advice to be followed, we should say it would be much better, and under every point of view wiser for Catholics to continue in the course they are now folio *ring ; and on the school question maintain a lofty independence of all Governments. We feel assured that in the long run this would prove to be the better course. But the times are dull, and Catholics claim a right to have their due share for their own schools of the monies they are forced to contribute for the support of education. Their claim is most just, and the policy th't pursues an opposite course is most impolitic and iniquitous ; but the question is, shall we not be called upon to sacrifice too much of our independence in the education of our children in order to obtain even an instalment of justice. According to Mr. Ptke's Bill, as we understand it, we shall be called upon to use in our schools the books approved of by the Minister of Education. He may be anything or nothing in religion ; and may refuse us aid unless we^discontinue to use our own excellent school books. This is a serious consideration. It will be Been from this that we are not very enthusiastic as regards Mr. Ptke's Bill. Nevertheless, we are anxious it should pass, inasmuch as its enactment would affirm the principle that our schools should not be ignored by Government, and that we are entttled to our own money for our own schools. If Parliament really wishes to be just, let it establish the Canadian system which will giye us all we want and all that we are entitled to, or establish a system of payment by results. We do not ask from Parliament anything that we shall not fairly and honestly earn. Let our school children be annually examined by Government inspectors, and then let us have the full capitation allowance for all who pass in their respective standards. This will satisfy us, although we should get no building allowance, provided always that children attending Catholic schools shall be enabled to hold scholarships while doing so. It will be seen from the above that in deference to the views of Catholics generally we abstain from pressing on them our private views as to the policy of having anything whatever to do with Government in the education of our children. Our private view is that it would be better and wiser to maintain our own schools ourselves, independently of Goverment aid and maintain our independence under every point of view. It would be safer to do so.