The Southland Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1872.
THERE is probably no question which it is more difficult to discuss in the abstract, apart from its surroundings and influences, taan'thaiTof "national education. This admitted difficulty is, in ' all likelihood, in reference to the particular subject, really a point of advantage, the relative problems which the discussion of the -question opens up being, in themselves,; if not of equal importance, certainly worthy of attentive and careful consideration. The' question may be asked, "Is it the duty of the State to educate the rising community ?" Tbe answer to this question in the abstract, must be a simple negative, unless we are prepared to assign to the State those other duties which are universally admitted primarily to belong to parents, namely, the clothing and feeding of their children: This simple "negative will .probably be met' by some reference to the criminal statistics of youth, and the cost of crime to . the community, and . the question will be asked, "Whether as a matter of political economy it is not wiser and cheaper for the State to educate tban'to pay the very heavy bill which ignorance and its generally accompanying vices and crimes entail ?'' This is, however, but begging the question, which by : 'tnls" reference is made to become a question whether the State ought to undertake the work (for as yet it has not been proved to be its duty), or by stringent enactment compel its performance by those whose duty to perform it cannot be disputed, namely, parents and guardians. For such compulsory enactment many arguments might be adduced, all tending, as a matter of course, in a greater, or less degree in proportion-to their cogency, to the overthrow of the principles of State liability in the matter of education. The proposal to erect and maintain a pest-house in the centre of a crowded city, or ' the assumption of a right to' turn loose among the community a nunuber oi' noxious and dangerous animals, would be scouted as an. absurdity — any attempt to carry into execution the assumed right or proposal would be indignantly resented. On this principle the abstract right of such enactments- as shall prevent the establishment of moral pest-houses in our midst, or preserve us from the deadly ravages of the vice and crime generated and fostered by. ignorance, must be conceded. Fortunately the argument of this branch of the abstract ' question is, so far as this community is concerned, rendered unnecessary by the willingness of the Grovernment to assume : its responsibility, as shown by the educational measure lately proposed to be brought forward. The State having assumed its responsibilityj the questions no vr for -consideration are, firstly, the character of the material to be supplied, and, secondly, the machinery for its supply. In the face of the conflicting interests which have to be served, and, if possible, satisfied, by. a" national system, the wisdom "or feasibility of any plan which aims higher than the imparting of elementary- education may be questioned. The justice of a proposal to tax equally the community for the advantages of a higher class education, of which a very large portion of it cannot avail themselves, will be but; T-dowlf (if at all) recognised by the non-recipients. The differences of opinion as to tho courses of study, as well as to the modus operandi, it is well knbwn^ begin to operate immediately after the elementan^course is passed', and it appears therefore in many- respects -desirable that -any- national scheme (to remove .all groundwork of objection andT jealousy) T Should be' confined to imparting elementary instruction. In any nationals system provision ought to be made for the reading of the ! Bible without note or. comment, care being taken that attendance thereupon shall not be made compulsory. In face c. the opinions which have been so freely expressed on this Bubject, we hold it a di ty to express our conviction, that until ! tbe Bible shall be proved " a mockery, a ! delusion, and a snare," an event which we neither expect nor wish- to see, it must form an essential element -> in^-any system of British national education. It will be \ remembered thitin the Draft Bill in the matter of education, introduced by the General Government,- and for a long time | before the public and freely canvassed, but which has been for the present with drawn, the important feature of difference between it aud the. Otago. O'rdiuance, on which it wa^ ; sfo'iriid ed, was the withdrawal from local co intuit tees of the right of appointment of teachers. It will be
apparent that in conceding the principle of State education, however we maydiffer as to the quality of the material to > be furnished, we concede also that of the duty of the State to furnish the machinery, and, viewed in this light, the proposal "of the late draft to withdraw the appointment of teachers from local influences, and to vest the satno in the State, must be regarded as a a undeniable advantage. A more perfect 1 guarantee of efficiency is thereby secured, and the independence and selfrespect of the teacher is also cared for and protected. It is frequently the case that, owing to the apathy or negligence of the community, the election of local committees, or boards, is the work of a few persons ; and, unhappily, instances have been far too common in which local influences and personal considerations i have had more weight iv deciding appointments than the question of ! personal fitness. The result has been I that the teacher has in many instances ! gone to his work with the full conviction that he has owed his election to personal favor, and that on the other hand the opposition to his appointment has been of a personal character, and such a conviction is not likely to be without its influence for evil on his future course. In any Government scheme of education which may be proposed, it is much to be desired that an essential of it should be the vesting of the appointment of teachers in a general board of education to be appointed by the Government.
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Southland Times, Issue 1634, 17 September 1872, Page 2
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1,022The Southland Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1872. Southland Times, Issue 1634, 17 September 1872, Page 2
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