The Educational Question.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2946, 25 July 1878, Page 2

The Educational Question.

The following is a copy of a petition which is said to have received numerous signatures in Dunedin lately :—

To tho Hen. House of Bepresentatires, Wellington. The respectful petition of the undersigned Roman Catholic inhabitants of Otago . and Southland, Sheweth— That the system of free, compulsory, aid secular education established by Jaw in this Colony inflicts on them serious grievances. That it appears to them unjust and unpolitic to compel them to help to maintain this system, which they are convinced ran only lead to the great injury of the Colony j aud under which their own schools are refused aid, from the public funds, in consideration of the secular knowledge they impart.

That tbeso conscientious convictions compel them to withhold their children from frequenting public echools ; and render it necessary for them, at great expense and sacrifices, to provide Catholic school*. Tuat Catholics have established and are supporting, throughout the Colony, Catholic schools.

That no Government or Legislature, is justified in assuming the rights and duties of parents and taking on itsejf the education-of children.

T'lut the State lias no right or authority Jo do more in this matter than iusiut on parents giving their children such an amount of education as is likely to prevent them from growing up dangerous subjects. That considering, therefore, your petitioners hare established and are supporting many excellent Catholic schools; that they wiJl not send their children to public schools j and that, in cowmen with their fellowcitizens, they pay taxes and discharge all the other duties of good citizons: they cannot but regard the refusal of government to aid their schools as evidence of a determination to persecute them on account of the efforts they are making to giro their childrea a Christian and Catholic education, and rear them up to be intelligent and dutiful Catholic subjects, That jour petitioners, therefore, appet'l | onso more to the justice and wisdom of your Honourable House to, afford them redress, by devising such measures as shall put their schools on a footing of equality with all other schools supported or aided by the State.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.