THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOLS AND BOARD INSPECTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 1, 1 May 1896, Page 17

THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOLS AND BOARD INSPECTION.

§■? an Gditori*! on the last report of the Otago Jpa SpL Education Board the Dunedin Daily limes S3 I?> aßaina ß a i n ca^ 8 attention to the qaestion of the nons| §£♦ inspection of the Christian Brothers' Schools. j|k gf^ Attempt to goage the quality of teaching in the 7S $*» Catholic schools is made difficult because, forrr v sooth, " the Christian Brothers' School in Dunedin, the largest of all the Catholic schools, was closed against the Inspectors ! " We have heard it said by those who ought to know better that the Brothers are afraid oi Government inspection. The Brothers who in Dunedin at last public examinations present d, out of a comparatively small number of pupils, four for civil service, and secured four passes, are afraid of public tests ! The Christian Brothers of Dunedin who, a few months ago, presented four pupils different boys from the other four — for matriculation and secured four passes, are afraid of meeting the Inspectors of primary schools ! Absurd. The Christian Brothers' School of Ounedin has for years ranked high among educational establishments in this Colony. The school increases in efficiency and educational equipment year by year. We have in mercantile establishments in this city many young men who made their studies with the Christian Brothers, giving the very greatest satisfaction to their employers. An instance just to hand recalls a number of instances which show that young lads, fresh from these schools, almost invariably please those who engage them. We are quite sure, if the public estimation of the " quality of education given in Catholic schools " depended upon the verdict of Dunedin business men who have had experience of young men trained by the Brothers, that the verdict of the public would be much influenced in our favour. Insidious attempt is made, and some weak-kneed Catholics fall into the trap, to minimise the advantages which the supeiior training given by the Brothers confers upon Catholic youth. Any reader of current literature must kn w that at Home and abroad the Christian Brothers are intHe front rank as educators. <ne has only to cross the Tasman Sea, to h'nd in Melbourne, Ballarat, Sydney and Adelaide, Brothers' schools the pupils of which successfully compete with colleges of name Mid much standing. From schools such as we have in Dunedin the Brothers in India and America and Ireland send up for difficult examinations boys who place their names on the honour roll of universities. Ihe trouble just now, in a nut-shell, is this : The Brothers have a rule and a system — a system which has stood the test of t me and i-xpuicnc — a rule which has been sanc-

tioned by the Holy See and approved of by the highest spiritual authority on earth. Bemuse they will not go aside from the prescription of their rule, and because they will not make their excellent, thoroughly up-to-date system bow to s j stems, varied as the colonies of the Empire, there are found people who re-echo the words of enemies of Catholic education and declare that they must be afraid of public inspection. The well-informed know that the local Christian Brothers, who came to New Zealand about twenty years ago and have worked heroically for the Catholic boys of Dunedin, are powerless in the matter of admitting or rejecting board inspectors. As a matter of fact the late Bishop Moran told the inspectors that this school was examined every year, according to rule, by the Brother inspector, who makes an annual visit to all their schools in Australasia. His Lordship did not ask for board inspection of the Brothejs' school. M uch has been said about the inconsistency of asking for general inspection when an important school would not be examined. In Queensland, where, for nearly two decades, Catholic schools are examined by publio inspectors, tha Christian Brothers' schools are not inspected. The inconsistency of Church authorities is not there proclaimed from the house tops. Not a word is said on the subject. As a master of fact the Brothers' schools are considered by all who have had experience of the training imparted, to be Collegiate or High Schools, rather than Primary schools. It suits the book of secularists in New Zealand to pay much attention to the Brothers. We think, indeed, it is unfortunate in many respects that these schools are not examined. We feel pretty certain that it would be found that the boys of the Dunedin schools are ahead of boys of the came age in public schools. Were they examined, kudos would be given to education in Catholic schools. The Brothers, however, have their own regulations. They pass according to the requirements of their Institute, from colony to colony where different school systems obtain. They are bound to have the inspection regulated by their own system. Two inspections would certainly be a considerable tax on the teachers. We have little doubt, if payment by results were guaranteed, that the inconvenience would be borne with here as in Gibraltar and India. Fome way would be found out of the difficulty. We would like much to see the schools examined by Board Inspectors, in order that their great efficiency might be realized by the public. We must remember, however, that the general and Council of the Brothers' Institute only can give the requisite permission. Even the Australian authorites must submit such matters to their superiors in Europe. A General Chapter of the Order will be held in Ireland in a few months. No doubt this matter will bo discussed. Whatever line of action the Brothers pursue, they will certainly keep in view the progressive spirit of the time and the desire to ad v* nee Catholic education.