South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2349, 27 September 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1880.

Sumk of the Australian colonies are about to add night schools to the list of State institution-!, and to the reductive mind it must be apparent that it; day schools under the parental espionage of the Government arc justifiable, night schools are calculated to be equally useful and convenient. Appropriately enough, Sydney, which is the reputed home of the colonial larrikin, is to set the good example. It requires no moral blackboard to exhibit in bold relief the kind of social reformation that such institutions as statu night schools are likely to effect in such a metropolises Sydney. Although, perhaps, in New Zealand wo have no similarly formidable illustrations of neglected waifs graduating into fearless criminals as are to be found in the purlieus of that centre, still wc have a juvenile population growing up which unless taken care of must gravitate into an unmitigated nuisance. If day schools are necessary for the training of early childhood night schools are equally essential for the guidance of wayward youth. In some respects the night school is a far more important agent than the day school. The latter is useful to parents as a sort of nursery —relieving them of the trouble and responsibility of family control, but the night school is designed to be eminently useful in the cultivation of estimable and useful habits.

It is hardly necessary that we should adduce arguments in favor of the inauguration of night schools here. Young New Zealand is probably as well behaved as the juvenile population of any of the sister colonies, lint there are excellent reasons why some of the trouble that is now bestowed bv the State schoolmaster and mistress on tender infancy should bo extended to riper years. The cultivation of diligent and thrifty habits is of quite as much importance as the cultivation of an acquaintance with the three It’s. An elementary education is of small significance unless followed Up by after training. What the colonies have most to fear is the growth of educated ruffianism. Night schools are nut demanded as a corrective, hut they are wanted as guides. How often arc useful and enlightened citizens indebted to the night schools of older countries for the ability to overtake the sad consequences of wayward or negligent childhood. It is only when children begin to feel the weight and care of having someone to support, that serious rellcctions on the influence of education on their future prospects arise. Night schools arc then the medium through which they arc enabled to retrace their steps and gain tl;c ground they have lost.

If only for the sake of giving those who have escaped the full influence of the day schools a chance of redeeming their error,night schools arc imperative as an auxiliary branch of State educationAs institutions for training the habits of youth they arc indispensable. How many youths arc driven to the streets with their numerous temptations of an evening through the absence of institutions in which they can enjoy a hind of recreation that will prove profitable to themselves and to others. Apprentices —boys and girls—in the absence of comfortable homes, have at present only the street corners, publichousos, dancing rooms, or other meretricious [daces of amusement at their disposal. Publicans who desire to conduct their houses well, tell us that the trouble of sweeping idle youths from the doors of their billiard rooms is becoming quite an infliction. “ No admission for boys under 15” is ticketed on some of their walls. All these things go to indicate that institutions for profitable recreation arc needed, and night schools afford the most natural means for supplying this want. We venture to say that with a proper night school system in full operation there would bo very little necessity for industrial schools or reformatories. The incorrigibles of which, the Bench hears so much, would have their waste energies turned to profitable and wise account.

Tiio dements that go to compose the choice young vagabond, would turn out clover, skilful, useful citizens. We submit that those who have taken so much interest in the day school movement should devote some attention to the night school. These schools need not bo made an additional source of expense. If the buildings already erected for educational purposes were placed at the disposal of the instructors, and absurd restrictions as to teachers'examinations were abolished, these night schools might bo rendered self-supporting. At all events some steps should he taken to inaugurate night schools, if only as an experiment.