BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 11 February 1913, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Sir,—Tour correspondent, -Mr 1 .- 'C. J. Cooke, seems to harp discovered a "ware's nest" in the proposals' of the league. Ho says that a very large number of our Stato schools, are officered by ono' Wacher. It' .that ' teacher gives, Bible lessons, children who do not attend these lessons must be without instruction, at that time." Really, I gave Mr; Cooko more credit. Mr. Cooke, I believe, knows something about the "work of an average school teacher. Does he not know that there arc several other means of giving lessons than reading? Mr. Cooko would have us believe that, when a number of children in these one-officered schools are reading any particular lesson tho rest of tho children who cannot tako part in that particular lesson arp without instruction. There have been many of these "mare's nests" discovered by tho opponents of tho league, but I think this is the silliest of tho lot.' For Mr. Cooke's information, I believe thero are in New South Wales 1600- of these one-officered schools, nnd there has not been any outcry of difficulties about Scripture lessons. •; I think it will be- admitted' that these small schools ar© quite equal in percentage to those in New Zealand. Is Mr. Cooko prepared to say that this, work cannot ha done by the teachers in New Zealand?, I believo that individually the teachers, in New Zealand are quite capable of doing this work; Again, Mr. Cooke em by talking of "the teaching of theology." There is no attempt being made by tho league to ask any of tho teachers to teach theology in the State schools; all that is asked ;s that the teacher supervises a Bible reading lesson,' and sees that thechildren understand what they have read about. -Surely no sensible man-will say that this is teaching theology. Again, Mr. Cooko seems to infer that this would bo subsidising, at the-expense of all. the religion of some. I think I demonstrated in my letter of reply to Mr. G.'H. Nicholls that this argument will not hold water. Again, I state that the proposed change would ao cost the parents or the State ono penny more than the present secular system. Mr. Cooke should give us some statistics to tho contrary.—l nin, etc.. THOS. M. MILLIGAN. February 5, 1913. : .-.