A COMMISSIONER'S REPORT ON EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1844, 2 September 1913, Page 4

A COMMISSIONER'S REPORT ON EDUCATION.

Sir,—Tho very brief explanation I was ablo to send for your Saturday's issue refers to Canon Garland's version of a commission report on education, which version I was compelled to challenge. As your readers may havo seen my statement in tho daily papers, I wish to romovo a possible misunderstanding which afterwards occurred to mo at tho leisuro' end of a busy wook. I stated that "Tho report lias scarcely a good word to say fo'r any State religious instruction in tho world." Ono who know tho report could see from tho sentences preceding and following, that my statement referred to tho official report to tlio Government with its findings and recommendations. It was from _ this that Canon Garland quoted. This report' is concluded and signed by tlio commissioners (Pago 97) and covers tlio appendix up to I'ago 112, containing "the synopsis of conclusions expressing tho opinion of tho commissioners." It is to this official rcjiort containing tho recommendations and opinions of .tlio commissioners that my statement referred: not, as might he misunderstood from tlio brevity of my remarks, to tho chapters of cvidenco and information and records which follow tho,report; except where, as the commissionore state, tho conolusions and opinions again "appear at tho termination of tho various chapters." To this roport as above stated, my statement refers. Though this is the case, I might hero, state that after tlio roport, in tho notes and evidence on and Religions Instruction (Chapter XV) there are only two 'systems of moral and religious' instruction specially described. Neither of theso is recommended to tho Government, though good features aro indicated conoeraing tlio moral, and to a lessor extent, tho religious instruction.

Tho Swiss system- of religious instruction is almost tho samo as the Nelson system. Thi religious instruction is in nearly all the cantons given "exclusively by tl'.o ecclesiastics of tho two creeds. It is specially enacted that "tliia religious instruction must not encroach on tho hours devoted to tho ordinary teaching," it is optional. Scripture lessons do not form part of tho currioulum except in Vaud Canton rod hero, whore tho teachers may take part, it is optional lor thorn also. _ This can scarcely bo called Stato religious instruction. In Germany tho ovidcnco shows that the schools aro Stato maintained, sectarian schools, distinctively Protestant!' or ; Roman ..Catholic, and creeds and doctrines . may 1 bo tauglub ad lit). Tlio French secular moral system ia by special rcforenco_mado part of tho official roport, and 'ia tho only ono recommended in tho conclusions and opinions, to fill tho want left by tho neglect of the New South Wales clergy to givo religious instruction. _ I think this makes clear my first brief statement concerning tho opinion of tho report. May I add that I might easily have loft tho exposure of tho misquotation to speak for itself? Any oomment I mado was provoked by'the repeated recldess mis-statomcnts and unreliable infoi'inaition used to recommend tho Leaguo'S scheme to possible members. Such information is often used in good faith by canvassers and others who do not. know the real conditions. I wil-i lingly agree that though tho League's Bcliomo. is hopelessly unjust and useless its members' great desire is to benefit tho children, but tho end does not justify tho means. Wo also wish to benefit tho children by any fair and truly worthy schemo. —I am, etc.. JOHN CAltellLEY. Christchurch, August'3o.