The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 350, 5 February 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1881.

The Education question has been brought prominently before the public by the discussions that have taken place at the various annual meetings that have lately been held in all parts of the Colony. Different views were held by the Committees, ai cording to the fancied good or bad treatment received at the hands of the Board. One thing, however, presents itself everywhere * that is, that a wide diversity of ooinion exists as to the intro duction of the Bible again into the public schools ; and from this diversity of opinion it can be gathered that the introduction ot the Bible means Denominational Education. This leads us to ask ourselves the question, are we prepared for this going back to tbe old system of every church or religious sect having its own school, endowed by the Government 1 Would this be an improvement ? In our opinion it would not. We have more than once given it as our opinion that Bible teaching in the schools is a mockery. The ciy that. larricinism has increased since the Bible was withdrawn is mere bunkum put forward by discontented parties for a purpose, and lias been well proved in tbe European nations, where Bible Reaching goes on in the public

schools, yet larrikinisrn has been proved to be - largely increasing, and it is quite evident that any increase, if there be any in this Colony, cannot be the result of excluding - the Bible from the public schools. It may have been a mistake to exclude the Bible from the schools as a text-book, but it would be a greater mistake to g<> back to jJenomi national ism. Of course the remark would ho made by many that the Government aid will need to be supplemented by local rales. This will likely take plaee very soon, as the finances of the country will not admit of giving a fully free education. Rates once imposed great complaints would be made by several bodies, particularly by the Roman Catholic body, against paying for education which t ey cannot take advantage of Immediately, therefore, on a local tax being adopted, a memorial would be got up to Government praying for exemption from this tax, and also, likely, asking for an endowment to their own schools. It does seem, at first sight, a hardship to have to pay for educating other people’s Children. So long as there is no Bibio teaching wc cannot sympathise with this complaint, us we protest against the cry of a Godless education. If our Catholic friends capnot accept of this arrangement which was brought about by their own petition to Parliament, then we must say their claims deserve no sympathy. If jhey are discontented with the public education, and must have their own way of it, let them pay for it If though, on the other hand, they are not satisfied with the teaching - received at the public schools, and can prove that their schools are hotter conducted and deserving of Government support, let them have Government support, hut on this condition —that they exclude their Bible from their schools, aim all religious instruction with it. For Government to pay for religious tx’aining of the children of any denomination is out of 'he question. It is the duty, we repeat once mors, of clergymen to see to the religious education of the ycim? of their flock Provision was made in the Education Ordinance for time being set apart for clergymen attending to this duty, but except in the case of the Catholic priests, we are not aware that this provision has been taken advantage of. Our Protestant clergy devote a large amount of time to Boards of Education and High Schools, which could be better clone by others, whose mind docs not always run in one groove. Returning to the question —are we able to keep up a free education ? It can only be done by using the most rigid economy in all branches. This leads us to say demolish the Education Boards, and allow the local Committees full power of management same as Road Boards, communicating directly with the Minister for Education. A speaker, at a Timaru meeting remarked that this was tried and failed. This is not true. We never had a Minister of Education in the proper sense Mr Knight had full charge of the Canterbury schools for a short time,

but lie was new 10 the work and had no advisers, while he had on the other hand the Timaruites set upon him like a pack of hounds, because he would not compiy with their unreasonable demands ; but excepting Timaru few made any complaint, while many regret that a change took place. The case, as it now stands, is quite different. We have not only a Minister of Education, but he has a whole executive to consult with. He has also a General Inspector quite competent to judge all correspondence and conduct the educational business with the local Committees, who would only be too glad to lend him every assistance Where then is the need for extra expense ; the Boards are a mockery, particularly the South Canterbury Board. The election of local Committees is a mere farce. Take the case of the Temuka Committee. An agreement was entered 'into with the Board to allow the Committee to incur a certain liability. A few months only elapsed when notice was given that one-tbird of the amount was to be withdrawn forthwith, and the next payment was minus this third, leaving the Committee to work off their liability as best they could. Had the Conimitte been under the direct control of the Minister of Education, this matter would have been set right, and the Committee would have had some encouragement to devote its

time to the duties. No wonder that at the annual meeting the householders were almost unanimous in opposing the election of a now committee. If no committee is elected at nest meeting the Boaid will appoint a commission, who will be under the sole control of the Board. If it is praclicab’e to carry out the work by a commission under the Board, would it not be more practicable to carry on by a Committee under the Minister for Education without a Board at all. The expense saved would go far to aid in the efficient working of the schools, and doubtless greater efficiency in working would be the result. It is to be hoped, if a new committee is elected by the householders in this district, that they will he pledged to use their best endeavors to l ave the Boards done away with.