Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1874. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 332, 21 February 1874, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1874. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

The subject of educs-tion has been one of the popular catch-crys for some years past ; and on it many crude theories have been propounded, seme of which require to be examined. "We are far from thinking that the people «an be over-educated, but in some of the plans proposed there is danger of over-looking important elements of a proper education. " Among these we hold ons of the most prominent to be that of parental responsibility for the education of the rising community. There is a danger in State education pushed to an extreme, to shift the responsibility from the parents to the State, and when it comes to that as a rule, or when tte present Government provisions tend to render it so in individual cases, we hold that a very important element in educatbn has been left out. The humanising influence of parental responsibility has been lost to both parent and tehild. For this reason We would not abet any scheme whose tendency would relax me obligation resting on the parent. We therefore are not favorable to that excessive eagerness which is displayed by some: to undertake, as if the alone responsible parties, the religious education of the young. They are not the responsible parties in the first instance 5 and no eloquent pleading on behalf of the church can alter onr conviction that the firstresponsibility lies with the parent. If not qualified for the duty, he ought to qualify himself, and only accept the aid of the church as auxiliary to his own endeavors. 80 in like manner would we set our face against any scheme that would relieve the parent of the payment of school fees, unless on the ground of inability. Such a scheme has been advocated by some. Let that but obtain, and we hold it to be disastrous to the cause of education. We would sooner dispense with Government money in education^ than exempt bhe parent from contributing to its support. The toil, self-denial, and discipline put forth by the poor in providing for their children's educational wants has something ennobling in it, which has a reflex influence on the objects of their solicitude and self-sacrifice. From such "atnilies those Who fight life's battles are isually recruitedv Some of our readers nay be aware of such an institution as Seorge Herriot's Hospital, Edinburgh, vhere parents willing to delegate their re'esponsibilityin this matter may have their lesir'e. There children can be boarded, lothed, educated, and furnished with an ■ut-fit free of charge. What i 3 the esult^ We saw a statement some years go (we do not now remember wherej hat none of its alumni had risen bove mediocrity ; and we fear that a lurely State education, which would >lacethe State in loco parentis, would end a a similar mauner. Relieve the parent if the obligation, which ought to be in very man's conscience, to train up his hild fur usefulness, and you take away main element in education, and underline the pillars of socioty. You obliterate be parental instinct, and associate the idividnal with an irresponsible commnity. We have been betrayed into his line of thought by hearing free ducation hinted at, because, we suppose, lie system of education in Victoria is ow,/ree, as well as secular and comulsoiy; and also' from having had J ' report in our columns the state f the funds of the' Lawrence Grammar chool. The arrears in the accounts are y no means creditable to a considerable ercentage of the parents. Out of £358 ue, £255 only have been received during lie year -past. We hope this does not

arise from those parents seeking to shift the responsibility which belongs to themselves entirely on the State. A man should exercise some self-denial for his children's sake. Tb spend in mere luxuries what ought td be given for the education of his family is a sample of a debased mind. Had our friend General Dun known of these bases when he consented to oblige "Limited Liability" three or four weeks ago, he would also have admonished this class. If State aid tends to such results, we will believe it better to go back to the noble enthusiasm which animated Lancaster alter reading Dr. Bell*s pamphlet on the "Monatorial System " to spread education by that cheaper process. We would at least have a system that gave scope to the benevolent feelings of the heart, and not one that chills even the parental heart so as to consent to give up its best instincts to the State, and suffer it to take upon itself that responsibility which belongs of right to the parents. Such it seems to us would be the result were education made entirely free. Of course where parties are so situated as not to be able to procure educa,tion for their children, we hold it to be . only right and proper that the children be educated at the public expense. But in no case ought the State to assume the place of parent, save vhere the natural parent is either dead or has abandoned his position through crime or desertion, and it ought steadily to refuse to do what of right belongs, to the parent himself.