GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS AND CIVIL SERVICE CADETS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5393, 10 July 1878, Page 3

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS AND CIVIL SERVICE CADETS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES, Sir, — I observe in this evening’s Post a circular memorandum from the Education Department, respecting the] employment of Civil Service cadets, and expressing the desire of the Government to give “ every encouragement to youths attending the public schools of the colony to obtain such appointments.” Chairmen of school committees are requested to forward the names of past arid present pupils of public schools whom they can reoommerid for vacancies.' As a supporter of. denominational education, I cannot but protest against this additional injustice about to be done to denominational and private schools. The effect of the provision is not only more heavily to handicap the pupils of other than. Government schools, but to scratch theiri in or dis--qualify them for tho race in official life. It is not sufficiently unjust, we must suppose,; for deaomiaatioualists to build arid support their schools with their own money, instead of public money ; to contribute their share unfairly towards the building and support of public schools for persons who are in most cases able to pay for the education of their children ; to pay in the future an additional tax to support Government schools, and to be subject to the eccentricities (to put it. mildly) of Education Boards and school committees •under the compulsory and exemption clauses of the Education Act, —attendance at the Government schools must be assisted by the bribe of Government employment, I cannot see what right the Government has to interfere ‘ in such a manner with the Education Department. The Minister of Education and his subordinates will find that even with an un-' limited supply of money they will have sufficient to do to satisfy the ; cravings of the scores of -school committees arid boards for money, and to supervise, its expenditure. - Their labors will be increased if tho money should he limited, and they should be required to decide: as to the urgency of the various demands. Let the Education Department fulfil all the duties required, of it by the Education Act, and it will have no time to invade the province of school committees by touting for attendance at Government schools;—l am, &0., Sigma. ; Wellington, July 9.