THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 179, 31 July 1877, Page 2

THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

To the Editor of the « Evening Mail.' Sir,-Now that the papery Of Nelson have 1 , commented on the Education" Act, allow mer to pass a remark which has not been made by any of them, namely— that this new system, which affects a great liberality towards the pupils, is most illiberal and unjust as regards the tethers, inasmuch as most of them will be debarred from taking charge -of a school under the Act. Por, it is evident, unless explained clearly to the contrary, that the prayers to be said and the Bible to be read before schools will be Protestant^ Now a Catholic teacher wilf-neypr consent to\ say aP^testaut prayer !or tq? read a Protestant Bible. H$ would prefer 'notjo take_ charge of such a school, or he must act the hypocrite. And unless aa amendment or explanatory clause belntrodnced permitting- 7 teacher* the reading of Catholic! prayers OiX Bible, brought in to thit effect, thia measure; will be considered as naost illiberal:? and one of a persecuting character. Underthe Nelson system, where a purely Catholic school could not be had on aecoiint of the small number of Catholic children, those children could go. to the Government schools,. *arid. : withdraw at the time the Bible was.read^ ; in like manner Protestant children .attending" schools.conducjted by Catholic teachers were allowed to withdraw at the time Catholic*^ prayers or Bible were read. However, adr mitting that the present Bill will pass,->it -is presumed that in schools which are under, the management of Catholic' guardians anaV teachers the Catholic prayers and Bible will ba used, otherwise this Bill, which appears to be fair in many respects, wiil fail to give a general satisfaction. , ..—-..... ' I am, &c, \ I .--' -«■ , T . '' ' A. M. Gaein.l Nelson, July 31stj 187Y.- * *-'-- •