LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1678, 19 February 1913, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I- .- -.— » ' A REPLY TO PROFESSOR / ' - / MACKENZIE. i Sir,—Professor Mackenzie has. fired off his big gun to demolish the Bible-in-Schools League. May 1 bo allowed to bring my feeble pen into action to controvert the statements he mnkes, and [ which ho appears to think aro such deadly shots? He tins numbered them off, so I will lake them in tho same order, beginning with No. 1. 1. Tho Bible-in-Schools movement docs not in any way involve the principle of a State church, nor has it ever proposed to interfere with the neutrality of our school system towards all forms of Christian religion. Perhaps the professor prefers Paganism; this wc, do not. 2. If, as tho professor says, our schools are now under. strict moral discipline, Biblo in schools will not lessen it 7 but make it,more, easy to maintain. 3. Tho League always maintains that "our State schools should observe an attitude of strict neutrality, pro'ecting all, favouring none." All the League wants is freedom to-hava religious instruction or,not as the parents of. the children may desire.

4. The State is simply the executive of the people, and if the people desire it, it is their duty to supply such education 'as is required. 5. The professor maintains that the children's time is only occupied for onofburth of their waking hours in our schools, so there is plenty of time for religious teaching or other luxuries. So there may he, but for ordinary parents such teaching is impossible. You might as well ask them to teach arithmetic as a luxury, besides to teach out of school hours is a'punishment not likely to make children-lov.o any .subject. ■ 6. Wo belioyo there is an alternative between "the free, secular and compulsory system, or denominationalism subsidised by the State" We have an example of it in Australia, where it is at work, and I should liko the professor to show that it does not work satisfactorily. We have plenty of evidence to show that it does from school inspectors' reports. ' 7. Professor* Mackenzie says it would produce sectarian friction. The result in Australia has proved otherwiso; on the contrary . it ' appears to have' created. a better feeling towards one another of the various . denominations.' Why should It be otherwise here?.' ,'B. Tho professor says the teachers aro against it. It may be so hero, although it is not-so in Quensland. However, with air due, respect to the teachers, I must -say that the teachers like other civil servants, of this State must accommodate themselves to the requirements of their employers,". ■■' 10..Professor Mackehzi esays our'ethics are not based on the Bible or aDparently on Christianity. , If not, how do'es ho account ■ for people of other religions having other .standards of ethics? - ■ '11.-There'-, is no reason , why the Bible reading-lesson given by-the State schoolmaster should add to tho cost of tho State school system;.it is simply a reading lesson taken from the' Bible instead of some other'book. .'Religion's-instruction' will only bo given by teachers accredited by the churches and at their cost. • - 12. The League believcsthat the teachers aro an honourable, body of-men and women,: and-as their duty-will bo confined to ■the reading lesson unfair denom. ■national treatment will not occur. Here again.,.practice in Australia• has ' been qmtfi.satisfactory-surely the practical resu't \s r better than mere theory/' ■ - .14. Without the context it is.difficult to say ,what the English Education Sot-temont-Committee .wer* alluding to when they,stated that "English sentiment, has tor centuries shown a strong preference for allowing great/freedom in the utte™ auce of personal conviction.". We have no,desire,'.to. stop the utterance of persoual conviction but I do. not for a moment suppose that tho.committoe intendcomplete liberty .to. tcaol other people's' ,victioi n on"y! 01 ' "t0 tMV ■ P ™ l "" 15.' It is.;a pure assumption ■ of' 'the People who, want th* Bible ?SSOndo Dot themselves read ,IG. The professor says there is invariably »et*nan'influence at work-in doiioS ?^Sr- !ly - mi^(1 : sohl S o,s .. w!l <™ Bible M-pbsnj_is given' and' that it'caiFcs secpaionts. 1 his also. I'take, to-be a pure assumption, and if'ho would W'Zd h "BiWe t l 5W office of Schools 0 :~ ho ' obie<:tiV6 ° f th ° ' Bibl ° in ti'f S P. rofessc ! r !jW our problematic text-book is a. pur in a poke. If ho will apply for one of the New South Wale or Queensland text books he will see exactly, what 'fiiey are like. The' Lea,™ only wants a similar one authorised'by our educational authorities here v 2. He says the right of entry to tho representatives of a clerical combine, as ho calls it, would bo unfair because some denominations would' be unable to take advantage of it. He might as well say the present' Education Act was unfair because there are some.children so placed as to'be.unable: to attend school 3. I have already shown that the Bible reading Jesson would involve'no.' extra payment of. rates," thorefore there is no reason a majority should object oh the score of expense. " -,- - ■ 4: Wo do not ignore the fact that'teach-' ers have consciences.. .Professor Slacken-' ■f£i£«J*f l° r - t hi, l self ■&* universal testimony of ,the teachers in all those countries where the New South Wales system; is at work. Nowhere do the teachers object, to the Bible reading lesson/ tw ««' accusat «»i against tho- clor K y that t hey assume a patronising top-dog attitude towards, the teachers," is, I am ffi„ !, -i ,Sol, lt ely ™7 a «,Mted, and is a n^n^ttenof,h, s own attitude to-

Objections to the Referendum—' ■ I. the professor- objects to the Refer-' »),>« "religion, issues are infoJ'tw ' W *' on «"= contory.-say that n S -Maeqn; Ave desire « direct mandate from Hie parents. 'As in the tem PS ranc ? nueition it is felt that the serve. ary , P ° Cal r^re - s ™tatiou dees not ', 2. He; does not object to mnioritv riile tho'pibir ° r M ? ial V* s ' S t 3 Z?when comes in. Wo consider that the IL'L* 1 ver O**t social importance to tho community; „or has it, ai he aff,™'', lnva "nW.V proved disastrous" On tho contrarythe Biblo has had tho neatest, influence in buildinrr up our best na • siuer tnat_ the majontv has a nerfort TOht to ask for Bible reading aVoppor d™ if ! 0 f rced 0D A oso who , do not desire it. At present it. s the other w-iv round, the minority has been forcing Us secularism on us. ' .""""i, us 3. Is hardly worthy of an answer. Wo crowd Propose to suborno a hooting i. Tho • Inst thing in tho world our League dcares. to do, should the Eeferendiim be carried, Would bo to dictate to Professor Mackenzie,' or anyone in ho matter of • relkious belief -or m to the claims, or'authority of the BibW bnch fear is. an absurd phantom. We ?r r J'\ n .V f^edom , nll r.°" nd «tk matter of religious education, from which at present wo arc debarred, and that the Mcularists mny no longer dictate 1 te us Uc L lad 'M hat after all has to end with a text from the Bible. L™, 11 to nbdo bj- that text-, ,I^n^v Ver 7° ,reul<l .that,men Bhould February 15, 1013. W,or - BITlCrf - j