GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS AND CIVIL SERVICE CADETS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5394, 11 July 1878, Page 2

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS AND CIVIL SERVICE CADETS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib,—Your correspondent “ Sigma " takes a very partial view of the great public question involved in Government versus denominational schools. Public schools are established for the education of the children of all classes of the community, and on that account they are' in all civilised countries supported more or less liberally by the State. It is clearly the duty of the State, and its interest also, to attend to the education of the rising generation. It is also clear that it is the duty of the State to foster these institutions by every legitimate means in its power, and happy is that country (Those rulers are fully alive to their responsibilities in this important matter. Aud, holding these views, I think any Government would be fully justified in holding out a premium to promising pupils from their own All persons have the right to send their children to these schools if they are so- minded. The public schools are open to all, regardless of position, .sect, or nationality. No one's religious opinions can be invaded, or his sensibili-’ ties treated with disrespect, seeing that religious subjects are excluded from the schools. It follows, therefore, that those parents who, from religious zeal, or from false notions of respectability, refuse to send their children to these schools, virtually exclude themselves, by their wilful perverseness, from all participation in the great national- benefits accruing therefrom, and have only themselves to blame. Your correspondent announces himself "a supporter of denominational education." ■ The question then arises, what is denominational education ? It is simply this : That children ara brought together in schools where secular instruction holds, too frequently, only a subordinate position, and in which, at least for a considerable part of the day, they are brought under the influence and are instructed in the peculiar tenets of the Church to which the school belongs. It is clearly not the duty of the State to countenance much less to hold out inducements for the establishment of schools of this character. No doubt people have the right, within certain limits, to do as they like, and to send their, children to that school which is most in accordance with their own views. But if in doing so they shut tbemselyes out from advantages which’are held out to the national schools, they have themselves^ to thank tor it.' Under these circumstances,it is useless and absurd., to set up a howl about injustice. As I have before indicated, these persons can participate in these benefits if they will accept them up'on the same tiMak .ah they Me dieted

to the general public. But if they will only accept them upon their own terms, they must not be disappointed if the Government decline to make an exception in their favor.—l am, &c., ■ ■ . At,pit a,