CHURCH SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 8

CHURCH SCHOOLS

Sir,—Perhaps you have had enough correspondence on the above subjeot, but nevertheless if you will allow me I should like to say a few words in, defence of the action now being taken to establish church schools.

I take it we are presumably a Chris-*' tian nation, and however imperfect our attainment we are guided by Christian ethics in our conduct. Yet, strangoto say, our national system of education), excludes from its curriculum any religious teaching or reading of tho Book i from which our Christian ethics are derived. A large number of our nation, I believe a majority, reform' this anomaly, and attempted to attain their object in tho Bible-in-schools movement, which asked for some Bible, reading in school hours and the opportunity of entry by aiithorised denominational teachers to instruct the children of their faith, whose parents desired it, during certain restricted school hours. This proposal was turned down by the New Zealand Educational Institute without any other sug-. gestion being made for religious teaching or improved facilities given; to tho Churches to reach their children in tho schools. The advent of the war cawed the cessation of the Bible-in-schools movement at least for the present. Now, whatever the New, Zealand! Educational Institute may think on the subject of tho Christian religion, 'here are numbers of parents who value it at least as embodying the highest ethical teaching, and who hold it to be ai necessary part of the education of the> young. If the State school ignores all religious education, it is necessarily looked upon as of no value by ilia children, 'for we know that the authority and influence of the teacher is supreme. That being so, the Churches, as the recognised representatives of the* Christian faith, are bound to make some effort in the direction of religious education. In the Anglicau Synod, I, a layman, brought in the Bill for tho establishment of church schools, and we hope to extend them as funds permit. True, wo cannot do it without! fees, for we have not got the taxpayer at our back, as tho State has. So, now having been forced by the, secularists into thus, taking action, we are accused of "sowing strife and dissension among n united nation." Sure* ly by the premises, a most unjust _ac-« c'usation, showing as intolerant a spinb as the secularists are so fond of. attributing to tho Churches. Finally, let us take warnins by our enemy, the German nation. Efficiency is the fashionable word just now. Let us beware, lest in the effort to attain it we kill. the human souL-I am, cte. kßcH _