PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1168, 1 November 1883, Page 3

PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

The education question (writes the Sydney corresponded t of the Argus) is hardly likely to be voluntarily taken up by Government, but yet the compulsory part of the present law is being ingeniously evadnd. There are schools called private schools, the proprietors of which care as little about education as the parents do whose children go there. So long as the fees are duly paid the schoolkeeper forgives attendance, and so long as the latter will certify to attendance the parent is willing to pay the fees. The inspectors have unearthed one of these schools in Sydney, and found that it is kept in a small room totally insufficient to accommodate the pupMs, and that it is practically a farce. The prospect seems to bo that we shall have to compel all private schoolmasters to subject their schools to Government supervision, in order to prove that children attend and that they are taught. It is not in itself desirable to infringe on private liberty, but if we are to have compulsory education it is necessary that the law should be enforced, and made equally applicable to all.