THE EDUCATION ACT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 3

THE EDUCATION ACT

ROMAN CATHOLIC GRIEVANCE. : Reference to tho Education Act as it affects private schools was made at the prize-giving ceremony at St. Patrick's College yesterday. The rector of the college (the Rev*. Dr. Kennedy) said that last year tho Education Act was amended in such a way as to allow scholarships to be held in Roman Catholio sohools. But it was not generally known that at the earns time another amendment in the Act took away from pupils of Catholic schools the .chance of. receiving free University tuition. Thus what' was given with one hand* was taken away with the other. This matter was brought •by the Catholio Federation before the Minister of Education recently; who submitted it to the Council of Education. By eight'votes.to six the.council carried a resolution to. the effect that secondary school certificates should be obtainable at all registered secondare schools,' and that- the -Minister 'of Education should be advised ■to have the Act amended. That was, satisfactory go far as it went, but Dr. Kennedy could not say whether the Minister would, take the step advised.' . The wholo .thing was •tantalising. It was a case of . "Here it is! You haven't got it!" What sort of shuffling was that? • Arohbishop Redwood said that expupils of, St. Patrick's College wore acquitting themselves well in various parts of tho world, and on that account those interested in: the sohool felt only the more keenly the disadvantages that had been placed upon "Roman Catholics. Certainly, no .man.who, had the cause of pducation at heart but must truly Jament the petty spirit.which had been shown. ■ But the matter was in good hands—in the ; hands of ' the Catholic Federation; who would' 'see these matters "through successfully.