WORK OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1908, Page 15

WORK OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD'S REPORT FOR 1907

(Contributed.) The following figures are extracted 'from the Wellington Education, Board's Summary, showing for the, public and also the Catholic schools of the above district the Sixth Standard examination results for the year 1907 :—: —

Columns VIII. and IX. are not official, but are got by dividing columns IV. and V. respectively by columns VI. Thus, for example, column IX. shows that in all the State schools one proficiency certificate was awarded for every 20.3 children examined; whereas in the Catholic schools every 19 children

examined produced the same result. Again, lest it might be* alleged unfair to compare Catholic schools" at all with the large number of small back-block schools in the district, a comparison has been made between Catholic schools and all the public schools of practically the same size. Even here the results are still - rnorejn favor of Catholic education, the numbers, being the same —19 -and 20.5. Attention may also be' called to the comparative preponderance of proficiency certificates over mere -certificates of competency in the case of the' Catholic schools. It is well known that many of the> infants 'attending the Catholic schools are far too young to be received' interne State schools, and so the rolls' of the former arel- in contrast with thoso of the latter, unduly loaded with the names- of youngsters whose " presence somewhat* detracts from the' genuine" comparative value of the above' figures. . . . " On the basis of the numbers in attendance and - the- board's current yearly expenditure only, it is calculated" that. In, providing for the proper education of . their children the Catholic parents- . have, incidentally saved the Stale no less a -sum than -for..the year 1907 in the, Wellington district alone.- -„.',. Tables of Government statistics contain but little of romance^ '■ but even thoughtful non-Catholics cannot refrain -from -joining with us in giving a well-merited tribute of .praise to .our Catholic teachers, who have so completely , sacrificed self upon-. the hanL altar, of duty. Unnoticed, unpraised, unrewarded-; no. more, influenced by the coming and going of Governments and:; Ministers. than by the ebb and flow of the tide, year in ahd yearout, they keep, the even, tenor of their way— models of earnest- - ness of "purpose, to be followed at a respectful distance by those who have not received the saline sacred call.

I UlthePubiio Schools 1-930 159 16,936 762 353 i i 22.2 15,166 20.3 111 the Public Schools with averige 61.280 212 61-280 32 4,1)14 4,356 91 23.1 20.5 ill the Catiolio State examined Schools ... 62-307 1,339 1,199 63 18 21.2 19.0

Average Attendance No. of Schools On 801 l 1 Present at Examinations Certificates of Proficiency Certificates of Competency JNo. on ttoii to ' I every one Certif . I 1 of Proficiency I j>o. ezamiued to every one Certif. of Proficiency

II 111 IV VI VII VIII IX