THE EDUCATIONAL BIAS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1929, Page 5

THE EDUCATIONAL BIAS

As the result of his having opened a private school at Te Arolia recently, the Minister of Education (Air H. Atmore) has become involved in a controversy with the Protestant Political Association. Air 1. Bridges, provincial president of the P.P.A. in Taranaki, has written to the Alinister protesting against his action in opening a private school and thereby countenancing and encouraging the growth of schools in opposition to the national system. The Alinister must, surely see, said Air Bridges, that the more private or sejtarian schools there were in the country, the more would be the growth of section and religious bitterness, which, t-he Alinister would admit, was not a desirable state. The protest was made with no other motive than the safeguarding of the prized national system of education. The Alinister replied: “Your-protest is no doubt well meant, however misguided you may be in the methods adopted to ensure the '“safeguarding of iur- prized national system of education,’ but in my opinion you have an entirely wrong conception of the scope, lim-nnd objective of.the duties apper*-' taining to that most important portfolio of Education. You are evidently taking the narrow sectarian view, whilst I am endeavouring on all occasions to take the national view, and although my first duty must ever be to -safeguard the interests of the boys and girls in the State schools, and advance Rem along lines of development, I have the further duty to see as far possible that every New Zealand child, irrespective of class, colour, or creed, shall * have the best education obtainable. I look upon education as a great national 00- r -perativq movement, nnd I have refused, and shall consistently refuse, to take part in any sectarian squabbles.”