The Problem of Irish Education - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1875 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. CONCLUDING REMARKS. I Have already said that I do not intend in this tract to enter fully on the arguments in favour of the plan which it proposes. I have aimed at little more than a clear statement of that plan, and the suggestion of thoughts and reasoning which I leave it to my readers to follow out. I cannot, however, close these pages without a few words of comment on the general features of the proposal. Its leading principle is, no doubt, to secure for the Irish people a system of University education of which religious teaching shall be a part; and, moreover, religious teaching after their own convictions and in their own way. To vindicate this proposal it is enough to say that such is the system which the Irish people desire--the only one that will satisfy their wishes or meet their wants--the only one by which you can really make the advantages of University education available to the nation at large. Any other system will fail in attracting to it those sympathies without which the best devised institutions must fail. It is on this ground that I venture to appeal to a great and influential section of politicians, many of whom have shown a true and honest disposition to do justice to the Irish people, but whose convictions on the subject of education are altogether opposed to those which that people entertain. There are those who earnestly and with a sincerity which no one can question desire a purely secular system of education. It is not necessary to argue with them on this question. It is enough to remind them that true liberality consists in meeting the wishes of the people, not in forcing on them measures to which their convictions are opposed, and that true statesmanship is that which will frame institutions suited to the feelings...