In the various Election addresses which are now flying about
the country, we have not noticed many features which are at all unique. There is, however, a passage in Mr. Maakelyne's interesting address to the electors of North Wilts which deserves the attention of both parties. " With your con- fidence," he says, " I shall hope to help on another reform of supreme importance,—the systematic and efficient development of Secondary or Middle Schools, which are the crying want of our time, and which are absolutely needed, if we are to main- tain our place among the nations of the world in culture, in commerce, and in our industries." Mr. Maskelyne does not say that he would tax or rate the nation for the foundation and development of these schools ; and, indeed, we hope it will be long before we shall ever contemplate the policy of exacting from the pockets of the people the cost of anything beyond the most elementary education. But we may depend upon it that if we cease to take the pence of the poor for the teaching given to the children of the poor, the lower middle-class will cry out that they, too, have a right to aid from the public purse for the very much larger expenses of secondary education. Nevertheless, without rating or taxing, much may be done to raise the type of secondary education.
Previous page
