THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1868.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 117, 16 May 1868, Page 3

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1868.

<• Givk me tiie liberty to know, to utter, and to rrgue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties.” Milton.

We are glad to notice that our contemporary the Fress has taken up the subject of Education, "and improved upon the few crude remarks we made last week, and with the greater part of the article we of course agree with him. One slight error he has fallen into however, is that no one has mooted the question. Row, as his article is based upon our own, this is clearly incorrect, but we presume what is intended, is that the public at large display a very large amount of apathy on the subject. This is “most true, and pity tis, ’tis true.” It ought not to devolve upon the pi’ess of a country to initiate all movements, more particularly such an important subject as Education, which it might be supposed would be promoted by the spirit of selfishness inherent, to a greater or lesser degree, in every human heart. The press should be more nearly an exponent, or means of giving publicity to any matter which arises, otherwise it lays itself open to a charge sometimes preferred against it, of forming a new and novel Court of Judicature. Rut when the public display an apathy and indifference with respect to such an important question—important to every living being—it becomes a duty to endeavor to rouse them by any means. Since the publication of out last article on the subject of Education, some few persons have alluded to it, and urge us to continue to press the question upon the people until some action is taken, and we feel very much disposed to adopt this course. The Local Committee for this district, have, we understand, this week, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent as Chairman of the Education Board, with a view of ascertaining its intentions, who informed them that the Government was no longer in a position to assist in the maintenance or progress of Education by money giants, or by what might be called State aid, bat that a meeting of the Board would shortly be held when the subject of the necessary alterations in the Act would be brought under its notice, and receive due consideration.

Our contemporary states that the present Household Rate and School Fees are inadequate to maintain the various Schools. This is quite correct, as is shown by the fact that the revenue derivable under the Act has been supplemented by the Government to the extent of £B4O since July last. But were the whole care of their districts given to the several Local Committees, together with the Rate leviable in each, it would be seen that a portion at least would be found to be self-supporting, as the towns of Blenheim and Picton, but the produce of the Rate is apportioned equally among the Avhole under the present Act ; the School-fees alone being the property of the district where they are raised. It appears to us that many persons do not comprehend how the matter stands ; some we know are under the impression that they are entitled to send their children to school, and pay nothing in return. That, in fact, it is something like a charity affair, or like the Poor-law relief at home, and they have been used to grumble accordingly ; while others positively refuse to pay because they think the Rate or Fees cannot be enforced, which is of course a delusion. How, some of these districts, if seperated, would be self-supporting, while others are not, and it follows that since the Government is no longer in a position to grant money in aid, the districts must make their own arrangements. Sums varying from £BOO to £2OOO have hitherto been voted annually, and spent, in order to supplement the rates levied, but it must not be forgotten that much oi this money has been expended in building and furnishing School-premises, expenses which will not again be required for a considerable period.

We notice that the Education Board is calling for the Household Rate for the year 1868, and we presume the Teachers will do their part in collecting the current School fees, —none of which have been paid —which will enable the Schools to be cou-

tinned a little longer until such time as the Provincial Council shall meet, and agree upon such an alteration in the Bth clause of the Education Act, as will enable Local Committees to take the management of their districts into their own hands, and to charge such fees as are necessary to provide adequately for their requirements by increasing them to something like what is paid in the common Schools in England, and commensurate with the advantages derived. We need not expatiate upon the advantages of Education \ these are too obvious, and so generally admitted that we should occupy space to little purpose, but we extract the following remarks from our contemporary :

“To deny our children education would be a lasting disgrace to them and to ourselves, and

would be an injustice to the State. We should have growing up around us, a ‘ noble army of idiots, ’ who would, in their conduct, be nothing better than crossing-sweepers— ‘ cheeky little beggars.’ In after years this would be a glorious class from which to pick our representatives, our Foxs, our Monros, our Welds, our Staffords, &c. No, the small sum spent on education now by parents will never be lost. Better to leave our children to buffet the world with a good education, rather than a fortune ; for if they have the one there is little to fear about their earning a livelihood, while the other may lead to their early ruin.”