, 1872-02-10
TIT avis"
G4r;a1ja&at13, 81, groiz.
SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 1872.
SCHOOL-M MATTERS.
continued.

NA4'A'NSN
In our last article on School Matters. we said we
would not then enter upon the discussion of the
question, whether q public or a private school is
most conducive to the future welfare of the pupil,
and We did not, but tried our best to defend our
position to the question, which / s,fthat compulsory
attendance is absolutely necessary to the success
of both. The question then presents itself for
solution which of the two systems is most compa-
tibIe with the principle of compulsion ? In our
opinion the question is solved by the experience of
the whole civilized world. Where ever primary
education has been n complete success, tho schools
are public and compulsion enforced.
In those countries whore that education was left
to private enterprise or originated in the benevo-
ienco Of public spirited and philantropic indiyi-
duals, it was with difficulty enabled to extend its
influence beyond the narrow compass of a private
charity. These schools became ~sectarian (denom-
inationaD and dragged on q more or less cramped
existance, ono crying louder than the other for
Sate-aid, one Jealous of the other because in the
opinion OF the one the other received too large a
share of 1t in proportion to its relative usefulness.
We wish we had at this moment a little of the ability
of Mr. Lowe, the present chancellor Of the exchequer
IN Great Britain, who has been ut the head Of the
Educational Department III the house Of Commons
for five years. He knows Denominationalism in de-
tail, he hates it cordially, and makes no secret of
his sentiments, as witness his recent speech at
Manchester. His opinions are shared by the
great majority of EngIishmen. The English pa
pers are full of lamentations about them, nearly
all agree that these schools are Il complete failure,
but they have them already and must, therefore
make the best of a bad case. Here, in poor Santa
Cruz some doCtrinaires seem very DESTROYS to get
them introduced and subsidized by Govern
ment. What then is Dononiinationalism /! This
is a question which we shall endeayour to answer
as well as our poor abilities and limited space will
allow. Each sect Denomination establishes q
school. Where is the money to come from 2
From the pupils. But the schools are chiefly in
tended for the poorest classes who can pay no
fees. Well, our Colonial Council intends TO be
charitable, it is said. With what? Why don't you
know any thing about a certain amount 1928, 000)
presented to this community by the Mother coun-
try? Of course you do. Well, the interest of it
att per cent, say in round numbers $1,000 p. a.
might in the opinion of a majority of Il certain
commission or conference-moeting here, be shared
out to the different denominations perhaps in each
town, (What for the country $500 say more or
less for each what munitcient schools they would
be! The clergyman will of course be the school-mas-
ter. But he has his hands full of ministerial du-
ties. Why, then he must employ Il master at the
munifcent salary of how much ! Not $500 for
something must go to the schoOl-houso CHAT alone
would swallow up tho whole amount) and appara-
tus of various kinds. How much then perhaps
the foes. How much may they be valued at?
Dear Reader, have you over seen an Arroar-lst of a
private school ? If you have, you will know the diff
Guilty, nay impossibiiity of accomplishing anything
with such precarious means as the fees of Private
Schools. Revolve these things in your mind, use
your common sense. and you will never be a~.doctrin-
aire, in this respect, that is, you will never preacha
doctrine which has been weighed everywhere and
found wanting. But the parents are so anxious for
these denominations schools, it is asserted.
Where are these parents We know some
parents and some children too, but have
never been able to discover that anxiety in
them. On the contrary, as we have said already in
another connection, we have always heard the wish
expressed that there should be one common or prima-
ry school in this town, for those who can pay nothing
and one Of a higher order for those who can afford to,
nav 1.-THE Gnvarnmanf Draft is only cnncnrnino these