EDUCATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 10, 5 July 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Would you kindly permit me space for a few remarks on Mr De Latour s opinion regarding education ? When addressing the electors at Naseby, he said— "Clergy should have no control over schools " and "there should be no religious instruction gabbled in them" When asked would he bo ia favor of denominational education lie said— "lf Catholics came up to the standard I would be in favor of doing them justice." If he thinks Catholics are below the mark either so far as the support of education is concerned, or the standard of education in their schools, he must be greatly in error. With regard to the first point, Catholics everywhere give voluntarily and largely in addition to being taxed; and as to the second, "n those schools in Avhich religion is taught, the standard of education is higher than in secular schools. We all owe what little learning we possess to the denominational system, which excels all others, and lias taught the most eminent men in history's pages. I consider Mr De Latour's opinion on education very narrow and shallow, because good religious training reprobates evil and inunorultty. It is the eye of G*od a Christian will dread, and not the law of a State. A nefarious heterodoxy is taught to Catholic children ia the miscalled National b -Injls of Ofcago. Innocent children are taught to stiguiafoe the i.ic-*t eminent of their religion and of the land, and to honor thisj wh^m if they had their true biographies, they would no-,. Aid the -t- L » compels Catholics to BUpport this system, which has a vi c be» : a7ii» aud will end iv vileness. It would bo just as impartial for the & *t v to

enact a law that would compel Catliolio children to abuse and ridioule their parents aB to teach them to defame their holy religion. I am, &c,

£a£r „ , A Subscriber. r.b.— Mr Oliver spoke very fairly on the education question.