The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 332, 22 June 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1878.

Tun Committee of the Carlyle School have notiiied their intention of bringing into force the compulsory Clauses of “.The Education Act, 1877.” We, rather regret that any parents within the bounds of the Committee’s jurisdiction should have'been so careless in regard to the education of their off-spring as for it to have been necessary for the Committee to take this step. Carlyle happens to lie not tiie only place where such indifference has been exhibited, and where

similar steps have had to bo taken. A contemporary further down the coast, lately reproduced a missive, forwardep by an adult in respect ot some simple matter, which was indeed a specimen, of strange combinations of the letters of the alphabet, the meaning of which could only be known to the writer. The missive was reproduced as an argument showing the necessity of the compulsory Clauses of the Education Act. Parents generally may not be award of the powers vested in School Committees in this respect, ami as it may be useful to other school districts within the County to know the penalties to which parents are liable for neglecting to send to school children between the ages of .seven and thirteen years, we give a summary of the Clauses. Clause 86 enacts that the parent or guardian of every child not less them seven nor more than thirteen years of age shall, in case such child lives within the distance of two miles measured according to the nearest road from a public school within such school district, send such child to school lor at least onehalf of the period in each year during which the school is usually open. “In case any Committee ascertains that any child between the ages of seven and thirteen years, and resident within the distance of two miles from a public school •within its district, does not attend school, the clerk or any member of such Committee may give the parent or guardian of any such child notice in writing, in the form or to the effect in the Third (Schedule, thereto, calling upon such parent or guardian to send such child to school.” The form of the Schedule referred to is as follows:—-“ You are hereby required to send your child to a . public school; and if you fail to do so yon will be summoned before two Justices ol the Peace to answer for such neglect. If your said child is (i) under efficient instructions otherwise than at a public school, or (2) if it is prevented from attending school by sickness or unavoidable cause, or (3) if the road between the child’s residence and the nearest publicschool is not sufficiently passable for your child, or (4) if you have obtained a certificate in writing from a Government Inspector of Schools or the Master of any public school that your child has reached the standard of education proscribed by tiie Regulations, and if yon satisfy the (School Committee of any of these facts,-yon will receive a certificate exempting you from sending your child to school.” Parents or guardians refusing or neglecting to send children to school after notice, may be summoned before any' two Justices of the Peace, who may order children so named to be sent to a public school. .For neglecting to obey order issued by Justices the parent or guardian is liable to be fined any sum not exceeding forty shillings, “ and the same proceedings may be taken week by week in the case of failure by such parent to comply with the order aforesaid.” All proceedings for orders to send children to school and for recovery of penalties may be had and taken in the manner prescribed by “ The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866.” Wc think sufficient has been quoted to show the responsibilities devolving on the parents or guardians of children between the ages of seven and thirteen years. If aiiy such children are not sent to school fines may be inflicted. The Carlyle School Committee have resolved to enforce the compulsory Clauses. Wc trust the aid of the law will not have to be invoked, but that the notification which has been made will prove sufficient to spur the careless to a becoming sense of their duty. Otherwise we hope the Committee will not hesitate to use the power at command.