The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1885. NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 82, 10 March 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1885. NATIONAL EDUCATION.

' TKe Canton of Lucerne, in. Switzerland, HhowH its i^actical appreciation' of cheap and universal national education. This statement is f idly borne Qntjty a perusal of ajlengthy addrej«. to tjie students and pupils of the Centra^ Higher; School, Sheffield, by Mr J^UNPELLA, in cijargje pf^tlje Bepai^njerit ija , England, who' Shewed V»y Hn'inteiesting personal experience, the enormous value of free. education.' What the right hon. gentleman found m Lucerne may be thus summarised L AH the children, rich < and pooiy are subject to the same laws and attend the .s»me .school ; the minimum nge at which a child can leave school is 14, but-any child whoxlesired to contirim* longer might go to the secondary school* where ho or she nii'ht acquiie extra languages up to 17 or 18. All the schools are freej all the children attend school; every child, howeven poor, masters two languages —^French and Crettnan-— and, those who go to' the secondary school must master at least one other. -The tax-payers: do not grumble, at the~ cost, because they are fully aware that education is the safety of the rich and the best inheritance of the poor. The rich and the' poor are educated together, and no distinctions are allowed m the schools. Cleanliness is stringently enforced, and by example, rule, ami. precept all the children are cleiin. Wi,th ..such a . state of things pretfciiliug private education is not inquired, an^l there ; i« not a private teacher m the Canton of Lucerne. The lecturer said lie had been asked : "How if you have a pbor widow with a large family whOj w^uts to gft out tp work, and to koep her eldest girl at homer to take caro of' the little ones — you don't refuse herl" •* Yes we do," they jsaidj" we help the -mother, but, we do not allow the child to be neglected." So successfully have the prin-. ■ciples of niutual assistance been inculcated that cases weie quoted of the richer children takiug their poorer, schoolmates home to dinner with them, and every year at Christmas time, m every town, the richer families send to the school-visitors amy clothing they have to spare for the use of the poor children. The ccf-t of education m. the Canton of Lucenive to the children'? parents is onefr&nQ a year, namely^ only i6d m English money, which is sjiept m paperand pencils, etc. Boys and girb trained at the public schools are able to write and converse m throe or four modern languages, and m othw resoects receive a sound education. Voluntary societies are m existence for the Tery pqor children, but secular education

son seems to l>e that thu national aim »nd desire are ( to give their young people enterprise au<l intolligontr. The Swiss territory is of v limited aroa, and the population is a numerous ono. Their young people go forth 'infcb- the worUl at :m early .n»v to make a livelihood, and without etluciitroiiithey finil they cannot advance. rTlieir skill-as-artificeis is proyfibial, .aad their honesty., ener^y^and.selfreliauce are national traits. The.-'c are results of compulsory education .properly applied and , systeinaticuHy eanied o\\\ . We think our own Colony might very well learn a practical lesson ' m successful and economical State tfducaiion from the Canton of LuctH'ne. At all events, the results cannot, be regarded an otherwise than entirely satisfactory, as tegards tb.4. 1 . character and characteristics ot the people both at hotne and abroad.