BiCKERTON. — On University and General Education. 155 



machine, lifting-pumps that would require double the pressure of the air to 

 work them, and such like, are illustrations of what are constantly made by- 

 thousands of the ablest of our skilful and ingenious, but uneducated, mechanics. 

 It should, therefore, be the duty of the State to see that every child has a 

 sufficient education. 



That this may be done satisfactorily, all elementary schools should be free, 

 and the attendance at some school compulsory. As the prosperity of their 

 children is one of the chief objects of many men's labours, it is not to be 

 desired that the children of the industrious and frugal should be no better off 

 than the children of the idle and thriftless. We must expect that the sins of 

 the parents will more or less be visited upon the children j nevertheless, these 

 unfortunates should not be allowed to go utterly to ruin. The gift of a fair 

 education is one that may safely be given to all, without diminishing the 

 incentive to work which a parent feels on behalf of his children's material 

 prosperity. There can be no doubt that a child will be much less likely to add 

 to our criminal population if the portion of his life when he is most susceptible 

 to various impressions be spent in the school rather than in the streets. There- 

 fore both from motives of humanity and economy every child should have an 

 education sufficient to train his moral nature to a just appreciation of right 

 and wrong ; his reasoning powers to be able to form a sound judgment j his 

 power of observation should be cultivated, that the teeming wealth of nature 

 may not be wholly lost to him j his eye, also, should be trained to accuracy 

 and beauty of form, and his hand to be the ready and faithful servant of the 

 mind and eye. He should also be taught something of the properties and law^s 

 of the various forms of matter with which he is surrounded. To do this would 

 require a considerable outlay ; and here, by way of parenthesis, allow me to 

 indicate how I would obtain the means necessary for a general scheme of 

 education. 



In a new country it seems to me that the best way of providing for the 

 expense of education is by reserves of land ; for, as the number of the inhabi- 

 tants increases, so will the rent of the land, and the increased expenditure will 

 be thus met. If the reserves of any particular district be at any time insuffi- 

 cient to provide for the fixed minimum of education the State should subsidise 

 out of revenues. But that the amount obtainable from the reserves should be 

 a matter of local interest, a tax of one-third the Government subsidy should 

 be levied on the inhabitants of the district ; and in those places where the 

 reserves are more than sufficient, this sum should go towards increasing the 

 higher educational appliances of the district. I consider a complete system of 

 education should consist of the following : — Infant schools, elementary schools*, 

 advanced schools, colleges, and examining body (the University), and training 

 college for masters. 



