The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1884. OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 103, 9 June 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1884. OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

It appears to be the prevailing impression that tills Colony is paying too high a price for its system of education. It is quite clear, and has been said so plainly by more than one Member to iiis constituents that the price now paid is one which the country cannot afford to pay. A Southern contemporary pertinently enquires : — Are the advantages gained equivalent to this drain upon the resources of the people ? Leaving universities out of the question. Are the scholars who have passed through our common schools as well fitted, educationally or otherwise, for the general duties of life as those who have been

i'j.lu m pvivjitc and other Schools^ ■>■! m\ m ad.litibn to t'ldsijr ir/kr* course Ijefcttdt'h the teacher and the hhtglit, iUleiUioii IS given to the nipfal Culture fttid feligidtlS twitting of the Children ? We &at that 4 riegtftive rinstfef must be given to llicse questions. The State gJioj.l system with its palatial buikliii ;s, its li gllly trained teach erH, iljj t: ireful organisation, has m no ins. .nice that we know or have hea:J of proved a complete success. That there is any actual conncctio.i between it and larrikinism many would indignantly deny, but it is a fact that the word itself was unknown before the State took tho education of children m hand, an 1 that the { boys and girls of a quarter of a century ago were very differently behaved, than now. For a great portion ot each day the children are taken out of the control of their parents and guardians, and s.ibmitted to a system m which their is no moral discipline whatever, and whioh only requires them t) do their school work diligently and correctly and keep quiet while m the presence of the teacher. The n mlcation of moral and religious tiuths is a necessary part of every child's education, and should be carried on concurrently with the other portions of school duty. This is and must be rigidly excluded from a State school curriculum, and when, as is too oftcnftie case, parents are indifferent to these matters the children receive no education m morals and religion whatever, and tlvs is undoubtedly the reason for the existence and spread of larrikinism. We shall not be surprised if before long an agitation for either the reform or abolition of the State school system does not take place. A reform which will render it proper and consistent for at least the elementary principles of morality and religion to be taught m the public schools, though how that reform is to be accomplished without doing violence to the consciences, wounding the feelings, and arousing the indignation of thousands of parents is a problem we confess our inability to work out. As for the abolition of the State system and a return to the old fashioned private school, it would be useless to advocate such a a sweeping course as that, but we are strongly inclined to the opinion that existing difficulties will so increase, and the lack of moral and religious teaching be so keenly felt, that before very many years have elapsed an agitation with even that object m view will be started. In the meantime it is the bounden duty of parents, clergymen, and churches to exert themselves to the utmost to supply that lack of moral and religious training so obviously characteristic of the public school system at present m vogue m New Zealand.