RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 518, 27 May 1909, Page 4

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

THE NELSON SYSTEM,

A CHRISTCH.URCH DEPUTATION. . .. (BY.TEUSaitAFII—PRESS ASSOCIATION.! ' ChrlstchurohvMay 26. A deputation representing tho Christohurch Ministers' Association, hoacjod by, tho Very Rev. Dean Harper, and the Rev. J. Mackenzie', waited on the Education Board this morning in roforenoo to tho question of religious'instruction in schools.', " : "'■■' , Doan Harper said the deputation asked that school committees bo given tho power, if they choso to excrciso it, to fix the hours of teaching on one day of tho week, at four, and a halt hours, in order, to enable half-an-hour's religious instruction to bo given. Tho deputation did not press for an immediate answer, and preferred that tho board should give tho matter lengthy and full .Jnsideration. ' •'''•,•■' The Rev, J. Mackenzie stated that tho facilities granted under tho Act of/-'1877, by which religious instruction was given outsido of school hours, had not proved satisfactory. It was felt by.many that children having to attend school for an extra halfhour, in order to iccoivo religious' instruction, were being- penalised. Tho deputation asked that what is known as tho "Nelson system 1 ' should bo introduced. This did not involve any question of denominationalism,. or inter-, foro with'tho secular character of the general education given at tho schools. The speaker pointed out that twelvo months ago, 174 schools had adopted tho system, an increase' of 64 upon tho previous year,' and'no doubt thero had since been a substantial increase on last year's figures. Tho Nelson system enabled half-an-hour from tho school time to .bo devoted to religious instruction, and also assured full attendances. .Parents generally supported. the scheme, and it. had, answered , admirably where it was tried. In reply to Mr. T. W. Adams, Mr, Mackenzie stated that during religious instruction, tho teachers were only nominally in charge of tho .classes. Mr. Adnms said tho whole question bristled with difficulties, and particularly in regard to country schools; where thero were larger attendances of Catholic and. other children,' whose; parents had conscientious objections, to their receiving instruction of tho character ■named, t IV answer to further questions, Mr; Mackenzie said that tho syllabus'; provided do-, finite Christian teaching and moral instruc-. tion. If, ministers agreed upon a common platform he; did not think that either board or school committee could take, exception to tho ground proposed to bo covered. The chairman (Air. C. A. C. Hardy, M.P.) asked whether denominational teaching ehterod into the deputation's proposals, and .was informed!that it did not, Mr. Opie feared that half an hour taken from ordinary school work in the week wouldmoan a loss to ordinary education. ■■'. In reply .to. this, Mr.: Mackenzie stated that that was not the experience. A number of teachers testified to. tho fact, that the attendance of scholars.'was better on the dayreligious .instruction was given,': Mr.'Opie said that when tho board's teachers and .responsible officers stated, that tho work of-. education, demanded, not less than five hours per day the deputation.would see the board's difficulty, ■~. > Mr. H. W. Peryman saw> no .difficulty in tho way,of granting tho request. ' "', .;. The chairman pointed out that tho board was only administerine the law as it found, it, and had acted on the advice of its solicitors in tho matter.-' The board was in sympathy with religious instruction, but it had only to .deal with , the secular sido of ■ tho children's education.".'., Thoy only had the children for about twenty-fivo hours per -week, and- there were twenty weeks in'the year' when no work was bomg done at all. Tho deputation should not rely on tho board's' system for tho prosecution of its scheme. .'A good deal of carelessness - wob ; shown by people and churches in not,devising plans for coping with the difficulty. '■' ' . ' • .Dean Harper pointed out that tho idea 1 of socuriug"tho-'fltteridahco of'children for ro-■ligious,instruction-before .or after ißchool hours had proved" mbst' unsatisfactory."•■•■!> : 'Mr. Hardy said • ho- • know -a,number ;of ; schools'Wh'ero religious instruction given' regularly. Boys could be got-for cricket and football," and ho was satisfied they could bo got for religious; instruction as well. Tho deputation should not blamo the board, because it was trying to administer tho Act. • 1 Tho, deputation having withdrawn,-tho chairman' said the request wns practically. ah appeal from tho board's previous decision. The matter was on important one, and should bo gone into fully. For thiß reason he'moved that, consideration of the request be deferred until next meeting. In seconding tho motion, Mr. Opie said tho results of tho present education system had boon': magnificent, and transcended' anything of a, similar nature achievod in the Empire,' For that reason any change Bhould bo approached cautiously. The prinoiplo of tho Sermon on the Mount' was already being taught in the schools. - , The motion was aareed to. /-,