, 1867-09-13
To the Editor of the s'st. CrOix Avis!"
Dear Sir,

lar education must regard with the fullest ap-
probation the attempt recently made by a Mem
Der of the Colonial Council to impress on the
Government the great necessity of extending
to our Schools in the Towns the same system
of compulsory attendance which exists in the
Country. In the first place it is certainly an
anomaly that the system, in this respect should
differ so widely in different sections of our small
community and in the next, we may regard it,
| think, as a fixed fact that without such a sys-
tenn strictly enforced both in Towns and Coun-
try the instruction provided by the Government
can never thoroughly reach those for whom it
is intended. The reasons for this conclusion
are too obvious to require explanation.
The great difficulty in adopting this system
in the Towns seems to arise from the fact that
the accommodation now at the disposal of the
Government in the way of School-rooms and
Teachers, would not be sufficient were all the
children in the Towns, now growing up without
instruction, compelled to attend the Schools.
Permit me to suggest a very simple, obvious,
economical, and effective remedy for this, which
may not be unworthy of the consideration OF
our Legislators. Let the Government offer to
the various Denomination who all have large
rooms at their disposal q fair subsidy-sa $25
per month to each congregational be devoted
to the support Of Schools, which shall be sub
l6CU W OONO A1LAOuC AhcPNSCAOAI "AA v - 'ANA~
drawal of the grant should the School not be
satisfactorily or efficiently conducted. Strength
ened by such a subsidy the different congrega-
tions could extend their Shoots where they
already exist under great drawback, and eStab-
lish them on a firm footing where they are now
non existent for want of means: and thus ample
accommodation, and an abundant supply OF
Teachers would be provided for all our children
at o much smaller outlay than if new School
rooms should be erected, or hired, and addi-
tional Teachers employed by the Government.
This is the system which is adopted IN other
Countries, and found to work we'll and thorough
w; why then should we not adopt it here?
know quite we'll that there are some few
among us to whom such a proposition will seem
q dreadful political heresy-who think that the
Government should keep all endowments IN
their own hands, and who would sweep away at
one fell swoop all who would claim the right Of
participating in the benefits a~ccruing theretrom
but we have emerged from the age of fossils
and monopolies, and begin to see and believe
that nothing brings about Improvement SO sure
" as competition and We know from expert
ence even among ourselves that this is quite as
much the case in educational matters as in any
others. Not many years ago we were without
anv UNCONVENTIONAL Schools, and the whole
monopoly of instruction was in the hands OF the
public Schools in the Towns. What was the
result Utter stagnatiOn-a degree OF llstless-
ness which drove certain parties to establish
Schools where children might learn something.
A wholesome emulation was thus excited, which
has certainly done very much for the improve
ment Of the Schools in question and it surely
could only result in further good to keep up and
stimulate this healthful competition by such a
system of subsidies as | propose.
That the instruction would be conducted
quite as efficiently in such Schools as in those
under the immediate direction of the Govern
ment is placed beyond a doubt by the fact,
patent to all, that even at present, with no aid
from the Country-struggIiDg for bare exist
ence-and crippled therefore in many ways
the Denominational Schools compare most IA
vorably with those SO literally supported by the
Goyernment. This, I think, is sufficient qua
rantee that any subsidy granted them would be
quite as advantageOusly applied, to say the
least, as the money now given for the Public
Schools.
This, Mr.. Editor, I believe to be the only