HIGHER EDUCATION IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1599, 3 October 1882, Page 2

HIGHER EDUCATION IN WAIKATO.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The establishment of the Auckland College, which may now be considered an accomplished fact, leads to the consideration whether the state of secondary education throughout the provincial district is so far advanced as to enable full advantage to be taken of the superior educational facilities afforded by a .branch of the University, and I think a fair enquiry will show that the important district of Waikato is not in such a position, and that the time has arrived when a High School should be established in some situation central for the four counties of Raglan, Waipa, Waikato, and Piako. In support, I may point to the High School at Whangarei which was established some two or three years ago by special act, and received an endowment of nearly 4000 acres, the result being that during the last quarter of 18S1 there were six boys and eight girls receiving instruction there, the cost to the public being at the rate of about £250 a year, and the fees for tuition payable by each pupil eight guineas per annum. I do not in the least grudge Whangarei their High School, though with the endowment system I entirely disagree, but I think the demands of the district I have named are far greater, and the results would be far more satisfactory ; in fact I do not suppose the nctt annual cost of a High .School in Waikato would exceed that of the one at Whangarei, while the advantage, reckoned by the probable number of pupils, would be far greater. The subject has been mooted on several occasions during past years, but the proper location being a subject about which considerable difference of opinion would exist, no further steps were taken. Looking at this question from the sole ground of where it would be most convenient for the largest number of pupils, I think that Hamilton presents the best site for the first High School in Waikato. No doubt, in course of time, others would be required, probably one at Te Aw.imutu, and perhaps one at Cambridge, but regarding centrality of position, and means of communication with all parts of the four counties, I think any impartial person, laying aside local prejudice, will admit that at present Hamilton possesses advantages beyond any other of the Waikato settlements. I will now refer to another point which I think has been forgotten in the constitution of some other High Schools. By a High School, I understand simply one in which a more advanced system of education is carried on, but which is open equally to all ranks of the community, be they rich or poor. This is the theory upon which our whole system of State education is bisctl ; yet what a marked deviation takes place when higher education is attempted. In neither th« Whangarei High School nor the one at Waug.inui, established about the same time, and under similar circumstances, is any provision made for free tuition of those unable to pay, and consequently their system of edncition is only open to those in a better financial position, whether they '"ay have developed superior mental abilities or not. lam aware there is a prevalent impression that the State should only provide elementary education, leaving that of a higher class to be •supplied by private means, but it seems to be forgotten th.it plenitude of money and of brains are not always co-existent, and merely on the grounds of political economy, it seems a waste of good matei ial if a boy or girl has advanced well so far as his opportunities permitted, at the expense of the country it may be, is to have those advantages curtailed because his pareuts may not be able to pay high fees for further tuition. lam not going into the question of whether free education for all is a good system or not ; in my open it is open to serious question. Still while it is the main principle here up to a certain stage at least, it ought to be remembered that there is far greater inducement for a parent to withdraw his child from school at say fourteen or fifteen, the age when he would be going to an advanced school, than previously ; and that the expense of his maintenance is also increased, independent of tuition fees. Without advocating entirely free higher education I think fees ought to be fixed on such a scale that any boy or girl who could attend the High School should have the opportunity of improving his education without the stigma of pauperism being attached to his name. It will surely be admitted that an educated colonist is of more value to the country as a member of the community, than an uneducated, and even the most prejudiced admirer ot Hodge, simply as a working machine, must admit after a few years residence in the colouy that a man is none the worse ploughman because he is a little better educated than the stereotyped old country labourer. I may trouble you with a few remarks on another occasion as to the constitution, %, &c. of the school, as it seems to me the governing body in neither of. the schools I have referred to is such that it would be desirable to engraft it on a High School in Waikato. — I am, &c., Edward G. McMinx.

Men* of Color — Painters. Three are 33,000 blind people in Great Britain. TnE difference between Great Britian and Egypt is not a very pronounced one. The one Is an island, and the other is a Nile land. Now that the moon is believed to have an atmosphere, a great many unmarried ladies would like to go there. Angelina : Eating onions not . only prevent Hps from chapping, but usually keeps the chaps from lipping.