The New South Wales’ State Schools

New Zealand Tablet, 10 March 1910, Page 373

The New South Wales’ State Schools

At the enthusiastic farewell demonstration tendered to the Right Rev. Dr. Carroll (Bishop-Elect of Lismore) by his parishioners and friends at Moss Vale, Mr. Justice R. E. O’Connor, in referring to the weighty responsibilities of a Catholic Bishop in a See such as Lismore, said : .‘Perhaps the most onerous and responsible of those duties is the care of education throughout his diocese. For many years now Catholics of this State have taken on themselves the whole burden of educating Catholic children.. Legislation has forced them into that position. Looked at from one point of view, the position has not been one of unmixed evil. I have always thought that it has stimulated Catholic faith, and has brought about a higher standard of education in our schools than we would otherwise have attained. But, on the other hand, it has imposed a special and grievous pecuniary burden on the Catholic community and grave and constant responsibility on their Bishops. And here may I make a digression which I hope will be pardoned on this occasion? I notice it has become the fashion amongst some public men to speak of the system of public education in New South Wales as if it were something sacred — kind of Ark of the Covenant which it is death to touch. I entirely differ from that view. The system was established by an Act of Parliament which embodied the views of the majority of the representatives of the people at the time it was passed. It may be, as every other Act of Parliament may be, repealed or modified whenever it may please a majority in Parliament to so determine. In the meantime, why should its provisions be sheltered from adverse comment or its administration from hostile criticism any more than any other statute, or the administration of any other statute, is sheltered? As to - the administration of the Act, the Catholic community is at least entitled to this that in the teaching under the system there should be no wanton attacks on things they hold sacred, no coarse vilification of their dearest beliefs; and when the great head of our Church in this State lays a complaint against that administration—a specific, definite charge that things are taught to the children in public schools which wantonly wound Catholics in their most sacred beliefs, he is entitled to demand a clear and definite answer, and in making that demand he has behind him, I undertake to say, the whole Catholic opinion of this State. Not only so, but he has, I venture to say, also the approval of every fair-minded man in the community, whatever may be his religious views. I make these observations at the present time because some few of the correspondents of the daily papers on this subject have suggested doubts as to the unanimity of Catholics in this matter. I have not many opportunities of giving public expression to my thoughts on such topics, and I hope that I may be pardoned for taking advantage of this occasion to state my own view of the question clearly and definitely.’