EDUCATION BILL—CAPITATION RATE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5110, 9 August 1877, Page 2

EDUCATION BILL—CAPITATION RATE.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. ■ Sir, —Parents, readers of the New Zealand Mail, must thanVi that paper for having so thoughtfully given a copy of the new Education Pill in its columns. Education is a subject that concerns everybody, more especially parents, and the copy of the Bill will be read with much interest by all. I understand, from the remarks made by the Hon. Mr. Bowen, in introducing the Bill to the House, and in talking of the capitation rate, that it is the intention only to tax- children “who absolutely have no other means of education.” This evidently is the intention, although by the Bill itself provision is only made for exempting children attending other schools, and board scholars in some cases. Now in a colony, in parts thinly populated and in small towns, where the choice of schools is limited, parents often prefer having their children, more especially girls, educated at home by governesses, elder sisters, or by the parents themselves. By section 9J of the Bill a child “under efficient instruction otherwise" is exempted from attending board schools, and in such a case it is evidently intended also to exempt the child from the capitation rate. As section 80 does not, however, make allowance for “ exemption certificates” in such cases (schoolmasters only haying the power to grant certificates), it is to he hoped that the necessary provision will be made before the Bill becomes law, and so save needless difficulty afterwards. ' Many parents disapprove of public schools for girls, not only those who can afford to keep governesses and pay capitation rates besides.—I am, &c., Paterfamilias.