COMPULSORY EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1749, 14 May 1913, Page 3

COMPULSORY EDUCATION.

Sir,—lt was with great sympathy that I read a letter on the above in your paper rather more than a week ago. It is quite inconceivable to mo that tjio pcoplo of New; Zealand, who boast of their freedom, will allow themselves to be dictated to by the State as to wlriit and Jiow their children be taught. That they are'competently taught'is all that concerns anyone, and surely every parent with any consideration for the future of their child will see to that without the State interfering. The means to pay for a good education is I know in many eases the firstaim and object of their existence. It is surely time that the educated people of New' Zealand, the upper classes, if ono is allowed to nso such a term, in this democratic country awoke to the fact that soon we shall be politely requesting the Stato whether v,e may be allowed to call our souls our own, as our children no longer belong to ns, and we arc dictated to as to what,' by whom, .and for how many liours daily they shall be taught irrespective of their parent's wishes. That the State should look after tho children of people who if left to themselves would neglect their education is quite right and proper, and it for these people and thoso who canuot afford to have their children otherwise educated tho State school is a blessing; but for educated people whoso first consideration in life is Hint their children may receive the best instruction in then- power to givo them, to be dictated to by the State is preposterous.—l am,