THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 14

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY REVIEW.

NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY

Teaclicrs and others interested in the administration of education are invited to contribute notes for publication in "The School World." These sliould no addressed to the Editor, "Tho School World," The Dominion;. Wellington, and posted to reach thig office not later than Wednesday in each week. Correspondents desiring enlightenment upon auy question in connection with the .school work, ov the general administration of tho education system, are invited to submit theso points to tho Editor for elucidation and reply. Where anonymity is desired, it will bo 6trictly observed.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "S.H."—lnvestigation has been made. The position appears to be that UlO board was unwilling, out of consideration for the probationary teachers' personal circumstances (with whicn tho board sympathised), to enforce the provisions of t'he school attendance regulations,. in view of tho probability that such a course would have precipitated a crisis in the relations existing between tho committee and the teacher, and resulted in the determination of his appointment before the expiry of his (erm of engagement. Shonld this explanation appear to you to bo inadequate, pleaso call and see tho Editor of the School World. BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS. TIMAP.T7 TEACHERS' ATTITUDE. The Timaru branch of the New Zealand •Educational lustifuto has committed itself to a resolution denying that "auy form of Bible teaching in State schools sets lip a test in of teachers'." Someone j(Mr. ,D. Ferguson, of Winchester) brought tho matter up by way of notice ol' motion, and speaking in support of his proposition remarked that one would hardly think that any body of teachers would find it necessary to have such a point elaborated on. ij'nfortunately it was neccssary to elaborate on the point. He knew this from conversations he had had with teachers. Ho sympathised with teachers who favoured Bible reading, but unfortunately, or fortmi-. atoly, a system, had been'established by the statesmen of New Zealand whereby it was mndo law that certain subjects should be taught in tho schools, and 110 other subject could be taught except, by the permission of the Government. Tho .leading things to bo aimed at were physical fitness and mental fitness in tho training of tho 'children—no question was asked on the- score of religion. What was tho idea tho statesmen had who framed tho syllabus? lie would say unhesitatmgl.y in one word, and only one word, the ideal was to make good citizens. It wm intended that the young should be trained by the teacher 'to bo as' mentally bright and physically strong as possible. Tho 'State had not said anything about a third element in the training of children, a very vital element. This was (he element of the spiritual life of the child, which had not been cast in the mould of our syllabus and teachers entering tho 1 anks did so only on tho score of training children, mentally and lor good citizenship. The Education Board had . decided that the teachers shonld take .no part, .officially, in tho Bible lessons. . The ipit.v of it was that they, had not.-gone , further.. (Voice: M°V never, contemplated that the .machinery and . organisation of the schools should bo mado use of for tho purpose of teaching anything outside' of tho syllabus. Ihe chairman of a Timaru School Committee was . reported to linvo said: All honoiy to the members tho si aft in a school who assist in this way. Did not snob a man-awl he was a typo of many others-indicate in his remarks that he valued the teacher who would assist in the Bible .work more than tho teacher who would not do so? If not, then ho failed to understand what the English .language meant. He ' could ' not bring evidence which would satisfv a jury in a court of law, but he could bring evidence which would be stronpresumption that it was true at the present time that religion was mado a test in the appointment of teachers. There - Ca - S ? £ ear of a "'ell-known teacher in South Canterbury, who was strongly convinced in his own mind that no was Icept from an appointment 011 the score of his religion. He quoted a ca«e of a school in South Canterbury in which a girl was appointed instead of a man, f s .. ,vas . rcallJ"- required, because it was behoved that there ,was a probability of tlio only male applicant beiug a Soman' Catholic. ...

. Tho speaker then went on to deal with ■tho cause for. alarm at. tho .sectarian movements. eachyear, to gain • religious representation, on .school committees. In the twenty years, of his experience of the South Canterbury Board,- lie hail nob known of a case in which the board had made a basis of any religious test. Ho had remarked this to a member of tho board once and received the startling reply: "Yes, but you must not forget that .tho board always has a prettv good-idea of the religious constitution or the persoiinel of the school committee." He wns soiry for that, because he had been, crediting the board with doing business in a tearless manner. It was a pitv.that a bar was to bo put /in tho road of tho young .teacher. The speaker dealt with tho point that young teachers might be led _to incur the favour of authorities bv plauM) Pat ' nS ' n Bibl ° tl ' acllin S- "(Apt The committee then discussed the matter at some length in committee, and it was announced later that the motion was thrown out," only tho mover and seconder voting for it.