An Archbishop's Views on Education.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7747, 24 February 1905, Page 4

An Archbishop's Views on Education.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC POINT OF VIEW. Aiehb;»hop Kelly, of Sydney, has ijiven a Chribtchurch Press reporter lis Views on the subject of the Itoman Catholic education in Australia, :ompadng the position of affairs there with that in New Zealand. In Sew Zealand, He said, there are 11,XX) children in the Catholic schools, and in New South Wales 48,,000. rhey had invited Rovcrnment inspection of their schools in Australia, but failed to get it, whereas in New Zealand he understood that thc> jould claim it under the Education /Vet. He only wished that they had jouie such provision in the New South Wales Act. So far, the only occasion for tosting the comparative efficiency of their secular instruction and that of the pub'ir. State schools vas afforded by the examination for he Civil service, or for University matriculation and -honours. In these points, Iheir Catholic schools excelled year by year in the number of passes of those presented, ond in the high grade of marks awarded, and also in the awards of special honours. What they wanted, if it could be obtained, would be flrst'i.v, the establishment of a first-class training college for teachers ; secondly, Government inspection of schools in secular matters and standards ; hirdly ; an equal share in the allotment [of pui.>lic money as subsidy for secu|lar instruction, according to the proficienoy of their Schools on every standard-*. Their schools of every grade had been carried on through the co-operation of their religious .teachers, and the voluntary sacrifice of Catholic citizens. If it were said jthat t'he principle they proposed for 'Australia would work out in the [direction of multiplying excessively small and inefficient schools! it might be remarked that the standard of 'efficiency was an indisipensable quali'fication for any school being sub'sidfeod out of the public funds, it j.wouM be found that in the large centres denominational schools would excel in the number on their roJls, the average attendance-, and in proficiencySaccording to their standards. Three classes of denominational schools alone were required in New Zealand—for the Hebrew congregations, for the Caithofic, and lor the Protestant. In the aparsely-populat-ed districts, of course, the schools must be as now, exclusively secular. .This was unsatisfactory, but the t State could not do better on the supposition of maintaining' efficiency in secular teachings, and pastors and Jparents could not complain. Iteligijous instruction by a teacher of am or no faith could not even be imagined.