New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1874. THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN OTAGO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 73, 19 September 1874, Page 5

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1874. THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN OTAGO.

It is not long since a pietty generally received opinion in this Province, prevailed also throughout the entire Colony, to the effect that the Government system of Education here was almost perfect. A gentleman who is now a Cabinet Minister asserted, in his plase in the House of Representatives, that the Otago system of Education was almost perfect ; that, in fact, the only thing wanting to its perfection was a little more inspection. This statement was received with approbation, — at all events, no one questioned it, and under the circumstances it may be concluded that the House endorsed tlie hon. member's opinion. It is no easy matter to take conceit out of an individual or a community, and it lias consequently so happened that notwithstanding repeated proofs to the contrary, the people ►" of Otago have clung to the flattering and fatal delusion of the perfection of their educational system. The * Otago Daily Times,' which very fairly represents public opinion in this Province, speaking a short time ago about the last examinations for Scholarships in the New Zealand Univeisity, still claimed superiority for tlie Otago system of Education, and' ■would only admit that Canterbury and Nelson were pressing in our rear. Thiswasja challenge to these Provinces, and as we had hoped and anticipated, the gauntlet has been taken up on behalf of these, and with effect, too. With such effect, in deed, that the conceit has been taken out of even the • Otago Daily Times,' which is compelled to admit that " It does not need pointing out that, notwithstanding our lavish expenditure — notwithstanding our comparatively large population — we are at present comparatively overwhelmed ; and that we have no right to claim either tbe first or second position in the educational arena." This important, candid, and very humiliating admission has been wrung from the 'Times ' by a letter published in its issue of la«t Tuesday, frona the Rev. I<\ C. Simmons^ Principal of the Nelson College. The facts stated in the rev. gentleman's letter are no new discovery. The ' Times ' must have .been aware of them long ago, — in fact, the statistics given by Mr Simmons appeared from time to time in its own columns ; and yet this journal

continued to claim superiority for education in Otago, till Mr Simmons' letter appeared. But having consented to publish .this letter, our contemporary could no longer maintain its own, delusion, or that of its readers. Mr Simmons' letter is short an ct simple. Nevertheless, it utterly demolishes the claims set up for our educational system. Speaking of the statement of the ' Times ' to which we have alluded above, the President of the Nelson College says :—": — " Surely this is a strange inversion. The University examination is the sole Interprovincial test yet in existence. ' The Scholarships awarded are given below : —

When you reflect that we have scarcely a fourth of your local population to draw from, and less than half the number of pupils to choose from, and no University or Collegiate Institution to aid us, you will, I am sure, admit that you have inadvertently done us an injustice, which is still more apparent when you look at the list of unsuccessful candidates in each of the three contests, and the position which they took. The results hitherto given by the only testing machine yet in existence afford surely no more reason for relegating us as yet to the third place than for claiming the first foe your Province, unless, indeed, you would have these intellectual contests regulated by the rules which govern the contests of arimals, not usually looked on as intellectual in the old country." All this is severe, but very true and just. Nelson College certainly holds the first place. This is proved by the success cf her alumni. But her superiority will appear more striking, if the relative populations of the respective Provinces and chief towns are burne in mind. Nelson Province has only 26,000 inhabitants, and the City of JVelson, in which the College is situated, about 6,000 ; Canterbury has 60,000, and Christchurch— the seat of the College— 15,000; Otago lus 90,000 people, and Dunedin— • the site of both a High School and a collegiate institution, the Otago University— boasts of a population of 20,000 inhabitants, with several populous suburban districts. And notwithstanding these very great advantages, behold the result as trenchingly and sarcastically put forward by Mr Simmons. If he ascends his triumphal chariot, who can find fault with him, no matter how acutely the sting of envy may be felt? His victory is so complete and manifestly well deserved, that even the • Otagi) Daily Times ' is compelled to retract its boasting, and cry peccttvi. "W"e shall not now attempt to account for this state of things. But we may be permitted to draw attention to a fact bearing on the point. Nelsjn, with the smallest population and least resources,,, stands first ; Canterbury, with twice as many people and abounding means, holds only a second place ; and Otago, with four times the population of > elson, and very rich endowments and appropriations frotn the public purse, is a bad third. But in Nelson an effort is made to do justice to the educational requirements of all denominations, freedom is respected and emulation promoted. This was the case in Canterbury, too, till lately. In Otago, however, the Education system is a close borough ; no encouragement is. given to private and denominational schools, so far as the Government; is concerned; all are taxed for the exclusive benefit of a section — the majority ; freedom is looked down upon, discouraged ; competition and emulation to any appreciable extent are impossible. And what is the result % The Province of Otago has the consequence and reward, and findsherself in a position of humiliating inferiority.

relson ... lunterbury ... )fago ,li L 872. 6 6 1 1 LS73 1 2 0 3. 1874. 7 4 2 Total ,' 14 12 3