THE EDUCATION QUESTION.
Sin, —A great majority of your readers will thank you for the remarks which appear on education in your leading article of this morning's issue. You have spoken out plainly and to the point. In common with the great majority of electors, I have given my adherence to the proposals of the General Government, and have done what I could to support them. One of my reasons for doing so—and, 1 candidly confess, my chiof one—was the hope that, by abolishing provincial institutions, the Education Act of this province and its various amendments would have been swept away for ever. I fondly hoped that a subject so important would have received prompt attention at the hands of the Government, and that an educational enactment would have been prepared for the whole colony without delay: but I begin to fear that I am doomed to disappointment. Thanks are due to Mr. Creighton for tak ng the matter up, and directing public attention to our present unsatisfactory position as it regards education in the North Island. If Sir George Grey would leave off talking si. much about conserving our political privileges in provincial matters (about which comparatively few care one straw), and direct his attention to providing for the educational requirements of the colony as a whole, lie would act far more wisely ; and by assisting such men as the member for Eden in bringing this matter to a successful issue, he would win to himself an imperishable name, and be blessed by thousands yet unborn, as well as by the thousands who are anxiously looking for legislation on it now. I enclose my card, and I am, &0., Parent. September 17. TO TUE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —I think the Government acted wisely last night in agreeing to Mr. Maeandrew's proposition to make safe the education reserves in the various provinces, and their conduct in this matter will, I think, do much for the safety of the Bill at the general election, especially in the provincos of Otago and Canterbury. Surely this proposition is a necessary consequence of the principle of localising the land revenue. There are certain prudent provinces which, actuated by a spirit of enlightenment, have instituted a noble system of elementary aud higher education, and have wisely thought that it would not bo safe to trust to the ordinary revenue for the support of that system, but have endowed it with fine estates, the income from which will increase in an almost direct ratio to the increase of the necessities of the system by reason of increased population. And it is surely well and politic that such estates should be secured to these institutions. The objection to the proposition seemi to be the idea that it will prevent a large national system of education—uniform throughout the colony from being established. But why should it have this effect ? Let us hope that ere long we may have a natjonalsystem—national and uniform, that is to say—so far as regards the constitution of the local governing bodies, the nature and range of the subjects taught, the method and system of inspection, the examination and appointment of teachers, though not altogether, at least for the present, in the sources of The colony will as a whole have no objection to helping out of the colonial funds those districts which are not endowed, and which from other causes need help, but do not let us at present stimulate provincial jealousies, and endanger the introduction of a spirit of nationalism by taking away the pet property of the provinces fiom them ; for those reserves are such, at least in Canterbury and Otago. Besides this, many of the endowments which Mr. Maeandrew's proposition will include are endowments for special branches of higher education which are not likely to bo within the compass of any national system for many years to come, and the benefit of which those districts which were enlightened enough to make them are surely entitled to. -lam, &c„
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4523, 18 September 1875, Page 2
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672THE EDUCATION QUESTION. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4523, 18 September 1875, Page 2
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