The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1884.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4097, 8 September 1884, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1884.

Occupying two commanding positions, and separated by one of tho pretty valleys on Scincle Island, are two educational institutions vastly differing in character. Tho one, that holds tho proudest position, is richly endowed and receives a splendid annual grant of money from the State. The other has to support itself as best it can. Tho wealthy institution educates at the lowest possible cost to tho pupils some fifty young ladies, whose parents can well afford to piy for the whole support of the school. The poor institution on tho other hill is a vast establishment, having a Maori girls' school,

an orphanage, day and boarding schools, the pupils numbering in all between two and three hundred children. Our readers will not require to be told that these two institutions are the Napier Girls High School and the St. Joseph's Schools. The former is supposed to be undenominational, by which it is understood that no particular creed is taught, tho children being- allowed tho privilege of ignoring tho faith of their parents, and the teachers being debarred from imparting anj-thing of religion other than that which is common to all religions, and the Book of which is tho criminal law. In its wisdom tho Legislature of Now Zealand declared in favor of the Policeman rather than in the God of our Fathers, and when this decree went forth only one creed was found to keep itself clear of tho iniquity. Throughout tho length and breadth of the land, the Roman Catholics, as with the voice of one man, denounced the State .system of education, and would have none of it. Thus the St. Joseph's schools are rich only in faith, and in tho knowledge of the righteousness of their cause. The buildings are old, tho class rooms are small; there are no kinder gar ten instruments of instruction ; the school furniture exhibits none of the modern improvements beloved by Boards, Commissioners, and Inspectors. "We have just to get along as best we can, and hope for the justice that one day shall surely be meted to us," said our most reverend chaperone. It was our privilege to visit the schools yesterday, and we were more impressed with the good work that is being elaily done in that establishment than over wo were with what we have seen in the pampered High Schools of the colony. It is at St. Joseph's— anel all other Catholic schools arc the same—where may be seen the results of devotion and self-sacrifice. Where poverty abounds there is no room for display, no place for pride. Through good report and evil report the teachers labor on, content in tho knowledge that thoy are fulfilling a solemn duty. There is no other reward for them here than this, and no other distinction. In a former article we pointed out that the Catholics wore eloing the State good service in the maintenance of their own schools. If those schools were closed to-morrow, what would become of tho children V There would be no room for them in the State schools, and, if for no other reason than that the Catholic schools save the country the expense of building additional school accommodation, and of providing increased teaching power, tho Catholics are entitled to consideration that is now denieel them. After all, what do they ask for that is unreasonable or inequitable? They say "we will put our schools under Government inspection, we will submit our children to examination, and if those children come up to the standarel required in the State schools give us a capitation allowance, in tho same way as you give us a subsidy for the support of our Maori schools." If tho State could adequately provide for the primary education of all the children in the colony, anel could turn round to the Catholics and say " send your children to our schools," the claim they now make might be considered unreasonable. The State, however, has chosen to lavish money and endowments on what are designated High Schools, to tho injury of primary education, and to tho exclusion of Catholics from tho benefits of the free system. It is a curious circumstance, anel one that ridicules our boast of tho liberality of our educational institutions, that those who help themselves obtain no assistance, while everything- is done for those who will do nothing for themselves. In this we see tho tyranny of tho majority. While tho cry of the age is for freedom, the majority insist on the establishment of hard and fast systems that permit of no liberty of individual action. Thus, while the Catholics are willing to build their own schools, and educate their children in their own way, thoy are refused all assistance because they will not conform in every particular to the established system. There is no difference, except in degree, between this tyranny and that which secularists complain of as having been practised by the church in past ages. In this century it comes tho harder on Catholics, as the majority of them belong to the poorer classes, and they arc the least able to pay for tho support of their schools. If it is by the establishment of a free system of education that the State has the right to make education compulsory, surely it matters not where, or in what way, the children are educated. To refuse assistance to those who maintain their own system of education, which is not only compulsory, but attains the standard imposed by the State, is nothing less than one-sided legislation, as unjust in its operation as that which formerly imposed disabilities on the Jows. The only argument that has been advanced against tho claim of the Catholics is that, i it were granted, tho eloor would be openei

to all other denominations for the establish

ment of State aided schools. Against this it may bo said that all the other religious denominations appeared to be only too glad to shrink from their obligations, and to rest

satisfied with the secular system of educa'

tion that at once relieved them of both trouble and expense. In proof of this,

where in this colony is there to be found a

denominational system of education outside tho Catholic Church ? There is little chance of the other Churches attempting a return to the control of education, anel now that thoy have voluntarily abandonee! it they should not be allowed to resume it.