Sir Charles Bowen, who championed free and compulsory primary education. (NZ Herald Archive)
Sir Charles Bowen, who championed free and compulsory primary education. (NZ Herald Archive)
Charles Bowen is honoured for introducing the Education Act 1877, which made primary education compulsory, secular and free.
The Herald generally approved of the move but thought that government payments to schools should be on the basis of results achieved rather than just attendance.
"At present a teacher is paidnot in proportion to the real good he effects," said an editorial on the Bowen's bill, "but according to the number of children he instructs. In other words, he is paid per capita, with little regard to what knowledge each caput retains."
Despite the old reservation, there is no doubting the enormous influence of this bill. The phrase "compulsory, secular and free" is one of the most important pillars supporting the idea of the nation today. The man who laid the foundation is our New Zealander of the Year for 1877.
