CLERICAL SCHOOLMASTERS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 703, 16 December 1876, Page 2

CLERICAL SCHOOLMASTERS.

Sir, — I believe there is a clause in tho Education Act forbidding clergymen to vi^it public schools during school hours.. Perhaps you can tell me if it is in ajcordance with the Act to appoint as teacher a clergyman of a public school. The Te Awamutu School Commissioners have, I hear, appointed a Presbyterian clergyman as teacher of that school. This seems to me to be most unjust to the Roman Catholics, and if such thiugs are allowed, I think we need not be surprised at the Roman Catholics objecting to the so-called "secular" system. If Roman Catholic pries' s were appointed, what would be said? Te Awamutu being a frontier settlement, it may be thought that the commissioners had no other choice, but I have reason to believe that they refused the application of a trained teacher who had a first class certificate.— l am &o, Fair Plat.

[The appointment alluded to is not the first of the kind. The Rev James Martin was master of tho Ooronmndel district school and subsequently, probably is now, master of the Grafton Road School. These is this difference between a clergyman visiting a public school in school hours and a clergyman acting as schoolmaster. The first goes there with the express object of giving religious doctrinal instruction, the latter goes there under the penalty of censure or dismissal if he attempts anything of tho kind.— Ed WT.]