WHAT IS REALLY WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 4

WHAT IS REALLY WANTED.

ilr - Caughley, in his address on Biblo in schools in tho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, as rejjorted by you, made some statements which I think require notice.

I would state, in the first place, that the Bibie-in-State-Schools League doos not wish to disturb the integrity of our national, system of education. It wishes only ,to mdd'the opportunity of some religious education, and it does not wish to interfere with religious freedom, but, on tho contrary, to carefully guard it. Mr. Caughley implies -that the Bible-in-ochools League keeps in tho background tho fact that they want a certain method of teaching, which he objects to. lam not aware that they are keeping anything "in tho background." They have stated, as clearly and concisely as possible, what they desire. Briefly, it is this: That Bible-reading lessons should be given by tho masters from a text-book drawn up by the educational authorities; and, secondly, that accredited teachers of tho various Christian' denominations should be allowed to enter the schools during school hours for a limited timo during the week, and, by arrangement, to teach the children of their own denomination. But any parents objecting con keep their children from any such lessons. This should bo sufficient to guard religious freedom.

Mr. Caughley, lioweve'r, claims that there are far better ways of teaching the Bible. Possibly there are, but how far are they practical for the great mass of oui: children. Tho Bible-in-State-Schools League's proposals are practical, and can be worked, as is shown by their working in Queensland and other States.

Noiv, as to tho injustice of these proposals, which ilr. Caughley maintains, and says Canon Garland cannot answer.

I am aware that our Eoman Catholic brethren, or, at any rate, their priesthood, object to them, but they also object to our present purely secular system as unjust. Nothing will satisfy them but Stato assistance to denominational schools. This would, indeed, ruin our national system. Now, I put it to Mr. Caughley, which is the gerater injustice? That a minority should arbitrarily deny a majority the opportunity of religious education, or that the majority should be allowed that opportunity, provided that no compulsion should be used towards tho minority. I do not think that Canon Garland will have to resign his appointment on this point.—l am, etc., W. J. BIECH. May 11, 1913.