LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 28 September 1871, Page 6

LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

A meetiug of the School Committee was held on Friday evening last in the Scboolhouse for the purpose of considering the new Education Bill. The Rev. Dr. Copland, President, occupied the chair.

A letter from Mr. Hislop stating, in answer to correspondence from the Committee, that no money had been allotted for the purpose of enlarging the school building, was read and reeeivpd. The Visiting Committee reported themselves as beiug satisfied with the conduct of the school.

The President then said he had requested that the . present meeting should be called in order that the Committee might have au opportunity of expressing their views on the Education Bill now before Parliament, with the general t tenor of which they were all acquainted. There were several points which were deserving of their attention, more especially those portions which had given rise to numerous debates and comments, both in the Assembly and out of it. The Bill for the most part was for the maintenance of the system of education as at present existiug, but there were parts in it which rendered it necessary to ascertain the public mind upon it before it passed into law. There were three points to which he would more particularly call the attention of the meeting, viz., compulsory education, the .Aided Schools clauses, and a political minister having despotic control over the whole system. Regarding compulsory education, the Committee should consider /whether such a thing we're necessary in this district — compare the present school attendance with the number of children who could tvftend, tvnd having pondered the matter in its various phases, they should express the opinions which were Use result of their deliberations. His own opinion was that the principle was good, and should be legally enacted ; but this would be better found out by actual experience. The general acknowledgement of the principle would no doubt prove valuable in time, and be carried out, so that there would be universal education. The most important point to consider was the. Aided Schools clauses. (The Chairman read the clauses referred to.) Clause 52 was perhaps the least objectionable, but that portion of it which provided that a teacher might be engaged and required to teach from house to house, or in two or more localities during the year, although it seemed good in .principle at first sight, he was afraid in practice would not work. Certainly it might prove a convenient position in which to place a lazy son, who could amuse himself by wandering from place to place, but that was all. But clause 53 was decidedly objectionable in every sense. It was as follows ;—"lt; — "It shall be lawful for the (Education") Board of any province at its discretion to grant any sum or sums in aid of the efforts of private individuals or associations for the maintenance of schools within School "Districts within such province, and such schools are hereinafter referred to as 'Aided Schools': provided every school so aided be a public flehool within the meaning of this Act." If this became law, the different churches would demand the assistance to which they would be legally estitled, end a system of canvassing to obtain and entice pupils from one school to another would be adopted. Of course professional men would not participate in such a movement ; but associations were the same as churches, and there was but little doubt that people would endeavour to obtain as onany pupils as they possibly could for the different associations to which they belonged. The result of this would be that an amount of sectarian bitterness would arise in this district alono to which we have hitherto been strangers ; and it would impair the present efficient working of the schpols, which teachers, as a rule, so much cherish. To look at the matter from a pecuniary point of view, the subsidy is small enough as it is ; but should three or four more schools be set up, t-'ial subsidy would have to be divided between them, or the public heavily taxed to support them, while only the same number of children would be taught. Again, we should either have miserably paid teachers, or a miserably taxed people. Clause 54 was as follows: — "If the Minister shall at any time bo satisfied that tbo Board of any pro.vince in nny case shallj without reasonable cause, have refused aid to any such school as by the two preceding sections the Board is empowered to aid, and the managers of which shall have complied, or be ready to comply, with the provisions of this Act, it shall belawful for the Minister to give' such pecuniary aid as he may think fit to such school, and the amount bo • given from time to time shalt be charged by the Colonial Treasurer against the capitation money of the said province, as hereinafter provided in the case of insufficient school accommodation." That clause, it would be seen, gave the Miuisrer absolute power to override the Education Boards, and was to be strenuously opposed, the more so as- undue influences might be .brought to bear to gain popularity, as was too often tbg ease with our rulers and representatives. According to other clauses, the Minister, upon the complaint of five personsresideut in any locality that there

exists in such locality a want or in- , L adequate-supply of public school ac-> commodation, shall, if he deems it ] necessary, require the Board to supply i the deficiency, and if the requisition be not complied with within three months, the Minister may take such steps as be may think fit for providing the accommodation applied for—all expenses incurred in so doing being charged against the capitation money payable to the province within which such school accommodation is provided. The Chairman concluded a long and eloquent speech by strongly condemning the placing of such despotic power into the hands of a political minister — a course which would be subversive of all good, and detrimental to the interests of the public at large. He trusted the Committee would express some opinions on the points of the Bill upon which he had touched. ' Mr. Hayes said as regarded com-

pulsory education, he thought it unnecessary in this district, as all thechildren who could were attending school.

Mr. Thompson said the Committee should not confine themselves to their own district, but take the matter on a broad basis. He feared that many parents were careless in sending

their children to school, while others denied their offsprings an education in. getting all the money they could out of them by sending them to work when

they should be at school. If compulsory education became law, it would adjust this evil.

Mr. E. Herbert was also in favour of compulsory education. Where children were neglected in this particular, it was the duty of the State to step in and force it.

Messrs. Harrop and Jamison also agreed with the compulsory clauses. After discussion, Mr. E. Herbert .moved, " That the Committee express its opinion to the effect that the Minister of Education should not be a political officer." Seconded by the Rev. Mr. Menzies, and carried. After further discussion, Mr. Menzies moved, "That the Committee disapprove of clause 52, as being rendered unnecessary by clause 21." Carried unanimously. Clauses 53 and 54, after considerable discussion were also unanimously disapproved of. The clauses relating to rates having been read,

Mr. Jamison moved, " That the Committee condemn the enormous and unconscionable exorbitance of the Bill." ~ .

Seconded by Mr. Harrop, and carried unanimously.

The Chairman said another point worthy of consideration was the want of standard school books. It would be an advantage if a uniform system of high-class text books were authorised by the Minister of Education, or the Boards. After discussion, Mr. Hai*rop moved, " That it is desirable that a uniform system of school books be authorised by the Provincial Education Boards." Carried. It was ultimately agreed to draw up a petition to the General Government embodying the resolutions passed, and that a telegram be sent to Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H.R,, at Wellington, informing him of the decision, at which the Committee had arrived. It was further agreed to call a public meeting for the following Friday evening, to be held in the Athenaeum. A \ote of thanks to the chair brought the proceedings to a close.