HIGH SCHOOLS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 340, 20 July 1878, Page 2

HIGH SCHOOLS.

-'(To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sis,-As I consider that good must accrue from the free discussion of all matters of public import, I will, with your permission, say a few words in answer to your correspondent “ Parent” on the subject of High School, I was sorry to see a disposition on the part of the Education Board towards extravagance in this matter, for, while’holding that secondary education might very properly occupy the attention of Board’s whose finances wore in a flourishing condition, and of a colony which was comparatively free from debt, I consider that, situated as we are, such a course is inexpedient in the extreme, and will assuredly entail neglect of the primary schools. •; It was only last year that the colony seriously bestired itself towards providing an education for its people; and I take it that the first aim of the Education Act, 1877, as- it should be of every young colony, is to see that primary education is established .on a firm' basis before proceeding to ihigher branches of learning, A glance at the report of the last meeting of the Wanganui-Board will show that money is a vex*y scarce commodity with that body, and, this being so, is it not unjust to adorn a few with a high-class education at the expense of the many who lack the elements thereof ? It is useless to sny that High Schools will Be selfsupporting, for, when there is a High School, there must’also be a primary-' one, thus necessitating the erecting and' keeping in repair of two distinct sets of. buildings, and the payment of at leastanother master. The extra fees will not do all this: if they would there would be no reason to complain. Tins colony is one of the most heavily taxed of all under the British Crown, and it is not fair to expect the taxpayers of the country to pay for a professional education for every person’s child. If people wish their children educated to a higher standard, they should be prepared to pay for it. I, however, go even further, and say, that unless a child lias a fair prospect of inheriting means suitable to the position, it is far better that he should have a sound English education, such as can be got at a primacy school, and also a knowledge of some handicraft, whereby he could make his own living by the work of his hands. The learned occupations are getting more and more, overstocked every day, and there is a growing disposition on the "'port of tbo ma<;sfis to g o in for the easy gentlemanly modes of life that do not entail hard work, and which enable them to keep their.hands white and soft and show-.off gold rings and white wristbands, while; at the same time, thousands of are only waiting for the hand; of man to u..a . them life-supporting and piontahle. As a i. r;l | consequence poverty increases—as witness prominence now given to the question of Charitable Aid.

It is significant, of tlie intentions of the Government, that two members of the Wanganui Board, both personal and political friends of the Minister of Education, have spoken strongly against incurring unauthorised expenditure, and it is to be hoped the Board wid now stay its hand in a matter which can only be termed a luxury as against the necessity of placing the primary schools on a thoroughly sound working basis.—l am, &c., CAUTION... Waverley, July 15th, 1878.