LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE NELSON SYSTEM. COMPARED WITH THE AUSTRALIAN. Sir,—As an old resident of Nelson, where I was a Stnto"School teacher for many years, I am surprised to find that tho system obtaining thero fori giving religious instruction in the schools is preferred by somo to tho Australian system now under consideration. ' Tho serious defects of the Nelson 6ystem may bo stated shortly, with the corresponding advantages of tho Australian system. Kcmembor that I am writing with knowledge acquired as a Stato School teacher, who did everything possible to make the Nelson system work ivcll. The Nelson System. (1) It is only schools in thb large centres of population which can reap any benefit under the Nelson system. Country children, far from Sunday school or church, are perforce left, out that is, children who most need religious instruction aro most debarred from it by the Nelson system. . (2) The instruction is_ given outside school hours, thus penalising the.children. As a teacher, I would never attempt to make arithmetic compete with the playground. Tho Nelson system makes religious instruction of less importance than arithmetic, and gives the child tho alternative of playing games outsido or coming in for the lesson. . ' . (3). Permission has to bo obtained first from tho Education Board, which, moreover, does not givo it for the express purpose of religious instruction. But, supposing tho board docs allow the school to bo officially opened at a later hour, then tho local school committeo has to bo approached, and whero tho board has given tho necessary permission the committees have frequently refused. Tho result is that- the question is likely, to bo a disturbing one to committee meetings, and also at elections of committees, of which, moreover, people aro members who havo no children going to tho school; and somo of whom' havo children going to other schools.

(4) The Nelson system provides for right of entry for ministers only, and ignores tho State School teachers, excluding them as if they wero unworthy of giving, or unfit to give, simplo Bible lessons. It emphasises sectarianism in its worst form, becauso it is a method in which Roman Catholics cannot cooperate with othet ministers, nor can Jews or Unitarians.

(5) In my personal experience I do not think I ever had a clergyman coming to my school under tho Nelson system. (6) I found that the children who attended tho classes taken by. voluntary workers from the chrrdhes wero children from moro or less religious homes. _ Parents who were careless about tho religious welfare of thoir children took no interest in tho classes; their children remained outside playing. Tho Australian System. (1) Under the Australian system every child benefits; the little child in the backblocks who never—or hardly ever—has an opportunity of hearing the Bible in church can read the Bible lesson in school and learn there is such a. Book. (2) The instruction is given during school hours, and thus makes tho recognition of religious instruction a part of the national system of education. (3) The. teachor is not debarred from using the Bible ns a means of strengthening, and a basis for, moral teaching. The child does not see the teacher treated *9 if he were unworthy ,to have anything to do with the Bible, and with the highest moral enforcement which can be given. It should be remembered that the teacher is the chief authority in the child's school life.

(4) Tho Biblo lessons in the teachers' hands aro completely unsectarian. They widen the mental outlook of the child, and set up a happy relation between him and the teacher which nothing else can

do. (5) The Australian system, while providing for denominational teaching as a right, also allows the grouping of chil-. drun into classes under, ono. minister, pro* vided tho consent of tho parents is . obtained, thus tho Nelson system is included, but it' is not the only method, nor is undenominational teaching by ministers made.compulsory by law. Those ministers who aro willing to work the grouped classes can do so, and those who are not willing cannot be forced to ds so. I am, etc., M. C. H.GASCOIGNE. New Plymouth. ■