EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 26, 22 July 1871, Page 12

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Good Educational institutions are amongst the chief requirements of a state. They have a tendency not merely to diffuse information, afford instruction, and promote human improvement and happiness, but to fit men for self rule, to enable them wisely and intelligentlv to exercise the rights of freemen, to elevate the national character, and even to develop the national wealth. In truth, the happiness and prosperity of a state are, to a great extent, the effects of its educational institutions. But we, of course, include amongst such institutions other things besides schools and colleges; other agencies besides those which are employed to convey a knowledge of the arts of reading and writing, of the dead languages, or of the physical sciences. We fear that the legislation of the last session of the Wellington Provincial Council was on the whole unfavorable to the creation and development of such educational institutions to which we now refer. Both the Education and Highways Acts, though they impose direct taxation, are hostile to the principles of local selfgovernment ; and, as they are not to be brought into immediate force, they will probably do more harm than good. If a painful operation must be submitted to, whether by the human body or the body politic, delay may prove dangerous, and the object desired be defeated. If the Provincial Executive did not intend to bring the Education Act into operation until after the next session of the Provincial Council, it would have been better had it been delayed until then before being made law, as in the meantime the provinces would have been in a position to ascertain what the General Assembly was prepared to do in the matter. Of all things the Provincial Executive should eschew, and be careful to avoid anything which may be made to \ ear even the aspect of a fraud, or -of an attempt to deceive. The laws they hsjve initiated will subject both iu\rv-JiM measures to a more severe scrutiny on the part of the public than as Aieretofore obtained, and hence the necessity that the conduct of the former, like the chastity of Caesar's wife, should be above suspicion. The education bill of last session has some defects and many merits ; but that alone, when brought into operation, will not insure a good education. The latter implies the right direction of all the human faculies, amidst circumstances the most favorable for their healthful development, exercise, and control. It is admitted that museums, public libraries, mechanics' institutes, popular lectures, and the newspaper press, are educational institutions, and agencies of the most effective kind ; but it must not be admitted that the theatre, music hall and dancing saloon are also. Novels, tales, and light literature were formerly under the ban of the religious world. At present the theatre, like the music hall, dancing saloon, and billiard room, is too frequently transformed into a school of profligacy and vice. But instead of being one of the worst, it might be made one of the best of educational institutions. As, however, even the religious tract society now publishes novels for the purpose of conveying moral and religious truths, and of supplying a counter attraction to the cheap literature of the day, so the time may come when they will employ the theatre and hall for a like purpose. It is not many years since the former were condemned equally with the latter. We know, indeed, nothing so well calculated as the drama to convey useful information, inspire lofty sentiments, create a correct taste, or to promote popular education. The oreat advantage of the theatre does not consist merely in its direct effects, but in its capacity of supplying better means of enjoyment in the leisure interval between labor and repose than those which obtain at present. In our view industrial, horticultural, and agricultural exhibitions are educational agencies, and, like the theatre or music hall, their merits consists even less in the good, they directly accomplish, than in the evils they might be made to cure. We know no reason why prizes should not be offered as well to the best gardener, farmer, or ploughman, as to the best marksman. It is astonishing that those who desire to promote the physical, moral, and social welfare of the people have not had their attention directed to the advantages of educational agencies

such as these. But, without doubt, local institutions of self-government are, as educational agencies, amongst a free people, entitled to the foremost places. Instead of those we had being extended and perfected by the legislation of last session the attempt was made to abolish them altogether; and we can hardly feel sorry, therefore, that the delay which is to take place in bringing the Education Act into force will afford the General Assembly the opportunity of more efficiently dealing with a subject, which is too urgent to be prudently put off any longer.