The Manawatu Standard. PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. MONDAY, MAY 14, 1883. DENOMINATIONAL EDUCATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 134, 14 May 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. MONDAY, MAY 14, 1883. DENOMINATIONAL EDUCATION.

From Dunedin we learn by telegfsm that the following petition is beiug signed m Donedin by the P.oman Catholics : — "That your petitioners ar<? conscientiously opposed to the systrm of public education, established m this colony. That they have m consequence established Roman Catholic schools and maintained them at their sole expense. That under these circumstances they find themselves aggrieved at being; compell- d to contribute to maintain a system of education from which they derive no advantage, which puts them at a great disadvantage, and which is practically the cause of their being subjected to double taxation; that they are persuaded one of two things should be done, if they are to be treated according to justice and equity, viz., their schools should be put on a looting of equality with the public schools, or they should be expmpted from taxation for public school purposes ; that they respectfully pray your honourable House to take the premises into consideration, and advise such measures as will secure to the Roman Catholics of New Zealand justice and equitable treatment." There spems very little doubt that a determined effort will be made next session to obtain certain concessions towards denominational schools. No one can deny that it is a hardship to comppl Catholics (by Catholics we mpan, of conrse,Roman Cathlics ) to submit to taxation for the support of schools against the management of which their conscience rebels. They maintain that religious education should form a fundamental portion of the daily teach* iner m all schools; and it is really a matter for serious reflection if the total exclu-" sion of the religious, element is not tending towards the dissemination of immorality, profanity/and incipient vice among our youth of both sexes, who attend our Government Schools. The secnlar system has many advocate?, and many — indeed, perhaps a larger proportion, condemn it < unreservedly; nni impute to its effects the precociousness and disregard for sacred things that they assert are characteristic of our co^nial boys and girls , -. The whole question is one that is surrounded with embarassing complications, and to which the Legislature should seriously address itself during next sension. We think the Catholic* have net exceeded the bounds ! of legitimate agitation m seeking to make their grievance heard within the ; walls of the House of Representatives. The question is not one that should be disenssed m a party or sectarian spirit, as it affects the welfare of every class and section of our population. If religion is excluded from our State schools, and morality is not inculcated there, we fear the result will be that before long we will have cause to mourn that, with all the benefits of a free education we have been pursuing a shadow for a substance, and that the increased establishment of reformatories, gaols, liourpß of correction &c, will have <o be laid n't the door of the secular education for which the Colony is raying so dearly,. We believe public opinion is even now adverse to a con* tinnance oi the system of education at present m vogue, which, while it crams the mind with secular knowledge, leaves it a barren waste as regards those

fundamental principles which should underlie all mental attainments, and render our youth virtuous as well as wise.