THE STATE SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 8

THE STATE SYSTEM

EDUCATION AND RELIGION TEACHERS ON THE SUBJECT ADDRESS MAY BE MADE TO THE CHURCHES At a meeting of tho Wellington branch of the Npw Zealand Educational Institute last iiijjlit Mr. H. A. Parkinson moved: — That with a view to checking the present tendency towards .sectarian divisions among the people of tho Dominion, the institute prepare and submit to the various churches a statement setting out the opportunities that the Education Act allows for moral and Scripture teaching, and explaining the advantages of tho Nelson system for the carrying on of this work; and that teachers, while not taking any part in tho actual teaching, be recommended to cooperate with representatives of the churches in establishing, the system wherever such co-operation is desired. Mr. Parkinson said that at the present time the State system was being threatened by disruption. Certain churches had declared that thoy would establish schools wherever they could. It' was not intended by the churches to establish only . secondary. schools, but to set up primary schools also. Tho reason given was that an education which left out morals and religion was no education at all, and that provision must be made for these things. As far as moral teaching went, tho State schools gave as good moral teaching as could be given in any church school by the end of a child's fourteenth year. For the last forty years tho children of the nation had been educated together and had grown up a thoroughly united people, and that was tho crowning glory of the State a; stem. In tho older countries, where every denomination had its own schools, the union was not so complete; there* was the division by the sects. If.church schools were estabin New Zealand we would have class r.et against class in a.wfcy we had been freo from up to tho present time. The Education Boards 'required . children to be in school for five hours a day. This left an hour to spare, and what was known as the Nelson system made some use of that hour. A committeo of workers (clergymen, perhaps) went to the school, and conducted religious instruction. This was usually iii the first half hour of some day in the week. I'ho system was used in Nelson, Tiraaru, Oaranru, Waimate, Gisbome, Napier, and some of tho schools in Dunedin. The attendance was about 97 per cent., and was voluntary] The system had the advantage that even hi this matter the churches worked together: it would preserve tho unity of the nation. If the Nelson system \ wore properly understood it would prevent any of the tendency to separation which threatened. Miss J. Parke seconded the motion pro forma.

"The Churches Know Their Business." Miss Sparrow said that she had had oxperience' in the London schools, where the teachers gave Bible lessons to their ordinary classes. The ordinary inspectors did not examine the children on Scripture, but there was an examination, and prizes were.given. Scripture was regarded as one of the most important lessons. It was found that moral instruction by itself (without religious instruction) was practically' worthless, and it was dropped. 6110 of those present remarked that what worked well in England might fail iu New Zealand, because in England there was an established church. Miss Aitchison, who had had experience of the Nelson system in Southland, said that there the system "worked all right," but the clergy who took the classes were on a number of occasions late or absent. Some one asked the question: Is this explanation of Mr. Parkinson's for the clergy or for the general public? Mr. Parkinson: I have no doubt that it will reach, the general public. My suggestion is that it bo addressed to the clergy. ) Miss K,. Ziman moved 'as an amendment that all the words'after "Scripture teaching" be struck out. Mr. A. E. Erskine seconded the amendment. Mr. Hopkirk said that it seemed to him that it was useless for the teachers to try to instruct the churchej in this matter. The churches hacv considered the matter carefully, and they knew their business. He saw no reason why there should not he an onen Bible in the schools, and until that was brought about the churches were going to have schools of their own.

Purely Secular Teaching Deplored. Mr. Ballachy challenged! Mr. Parkinson's assertion that they could give as Rood moral instruction without religious instruction as with it. The fact was that moral instruction was really founded on the Bible, and Mr. Parkin.son was absolutely wrong. As to Mr. Parkinson's references to the barring of the Bible from the schools, tho Bible was in reality barred, as it was not part and parcel df the system of State education. A system of education which was not founded on religion could r«ot stand the test. How did Mr. Parkinson reconcile these two statements:— (1) Legally, these halfhours are outside school time. (2) He did noc wish school teachers to tnke any part in it.- It was not nossiblo for' them to do so. Mr. Ballachy asked: Is there any law which prevents .school teachers from doing such work m this outside of school hours, oven though it lie in n school building? Mr. Parkinson: I am not much of a lawyer, but I don't think so. The chairman (Mr. AV. H. Foster) said that ho regretted that Mr. Parkinson had brought tho matter up. 'His opinion was that the majority of the people 'were satisfied with the State system. As to the fears of disruption, he was not'clear that the Church schools would bring about that rendition,, but if they did it would be due to the weakness of the State system, and tho State system would deserve to go. He had no fear of the State system failing to survive. Again, as to disruption, ho was not sure that with our'forty years of State education we had' escaped, divisions and classes The amendment was put to the fleeting, and a majority favoured it. When i; was submitted as the substantive motion twelve voted for it and e;ght against it. Ten did not vote at ,-11. The resolution is to he remitted to the annual meeting of the institute.