BIBLE BEADING IN SCHOOLS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 April 1910, Page 4

BIBLE BEADING IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor. Sir, —[ have rend with the keenest interest the letters in your columns written by Mr W. 0. Xsition jhkl Rev; S. G. Compton, M.A., and while each writer advocates a certain couiso along the old contested lines, I tliink the time is most opportune to review this subject, which lias justly so much attention and criticism devoted to it. Mr Nation asks "have they any fault to find with the present secular system of educationand I emphatically reply that T have: because it La fossilised and oljsolete.

When the present compulsory secular system of education was introduced the ohiof benefit expected to be derived was that every child would receive a rudimentary education. It accomplished the expectations of its promoters, and was a great advance on previous -methods; in fact, the system did good work; but the advocates of that system still contend that it is a perfect system, and imply that it is not capable of improvement; but their contention really serves to show the mental ruit into which they have fallen. The aim of every one interested in this subject should he to

siippr;rL Hie ad-option flitd. inlrodtiction of whatever instruction will equip our yoiiUi for the coming battle of life, and it giv-c-s me the keen eat satisfaction to know that u'th-ers beside mysL-lf aro realising that our present system of education is only partial on its intellectual side, am! utterly deficient on its pliysienl side.

Will isny one d'ewy that our present system is based upon tiiis principle* : " Tliiit tho chief duty ol the tcacht'ivs is to get .as many of their sehciais as vvi r Mil 1 literary hui-'-ilcs si:! for iL-iieiu at certain IK'riotls, i:o matter whether ihvir pu-ils' liealths aro injured, whether li;j collide' they an. , following is the best piKsi'ble or worst po.s.<ibk', or whether the course, has any or no relationship to the fiiiiiiro requirements of life?" The. teacher's first duty, it .seems, is to get passes, .and iiun their duly and interest ceases. Viewed I'n.in this standpoint, I wondf.r there is inil a greater >number awako to tho shortcomings vA tho jinsent sy.steni. It i.s now proposed that tho present, system b: , . suppleineniW.. by tho introduction of the rudiments of military ethical ion for our buys, and perhaps with tin , α-quirenieiit (.-f such training .sum■ attention may be given to phy-ical edueatioii. But, while it. is th,' duty of every man .!o be iitte-d I'im , the t'ul'eiice of his rights anil libr-r----r-ie.'-, wo must ' take great, caro it .hi.'S lint tend io pr?ilVs-in:il vag-i'an-y by lh:' eultivalirii i-l' habits of iiilene.ss among our youth.

['pon the (|ii;■■■■'!ion of reading the Bible in schools I wrate , a year.-- ]":; in rcplv to statements made bv Mr Nation," and T still held (h< , same, gener."! views; but so that vour readers may knew just, where ! Ktanrl towards the question, 1 will briefly ".bite these again. And while I know there are s-.mie tn whom the viTV mention of the Bible conjure- , - ■in mvH's and faii"ie-« that have n;« fouii-datir-i! in fact, f hryv bv tho Divs'i'iif. 1 ! tirii of my vi.-'-w*. for them t--< see it from my .'tand-poin.t. 1 nrciK--'! , . therefore, to divi'!:-. the nn,l,, ;,,(/» hvo p'irh: firstly, tint '!eaHiH>- witill (]ie relationship of our n'ind to Hie. iufini.f;> mind, a'u' 'fiiiolit and expKiiiH by nnr reli'j;i""s teach'"'s. nirl kiMwn a 1? reli'r

: r.!i : pv'ovdlv. that p:;rli"i) de'iHii" with r.ur relati:mp.hip to c-.-u-h other

•>i:d lai-L'elv eni.!icdie-l in our law'•ind social and cliieflv rvl.- , - rive to our secular ■and wlii -li ran W. el 'arly ff:niprelieiu'i ; d hy Hie secular mind. lint, \vli:;!t to nu> i> •■•t.i-:ui-j;e is the f-.ct tliat iif (ho ?e----,-ular porlions cf tlie 1? : !)!;« eiidvidviiur tin- wis-ioin of s.-i!i:« c i t!>e <:re.:t --.t- men and wom-.-n d p."■-!■_am■■■■: and times, our S'vular frir-nds will ivot allow tint* sintrle (|iKd-i f if:n to li:i read in (iiir schoid«. What is the explanation? i think we- shall have to look hevond tlie staii'iii'Mif;; of Mr Vaii.Mi for it.

f claim th-at tho compilers of our VS!c!ll id' « •••uliir <':Il!('i!t! r i!l l':IVO U"! been even true to tlii'iv profession. ! ,:it h l\v act-.-- ! with a lir< ->nd prejudice simply astounding in tins: , .v!i;> claim to liavo the- Wi-di'aro ol •die youth of our country at heart. If t.liey Iki-1 -the welfare, of the ehilIri'ii at heart. th:"i from whatever -;oun-n the-v could liavo drawn lesions to build n]> ii people dear and vigorous in mind ai:d strong and 'tealfhv in body, thov would have hne so ; hot. instead, i-hey ahoK. , ! !h-ir prkih , :" , , "I'd future. geu-'-r--> t:c.i!S will \k\uk wk'i ,-V>n;e of Ihi■nni Mild women vv-.!vi 'id n- f do tli-n----v,,rv host for !':,> y:.!!th of their l>iit wm'o blinded by ,-tl<er i::!cr;v-.tK r r prejudice;:. With r '/'.r;! to religions teachin". I tliink it i ; < irt. the duty of ih--'.'at>,. ;••■<; we hare not a S::;ie ivl; ;'..., ,:r c'li!;"'!. ■:■!:! Clir !-- r -.v ;i;,t !>: ; "l t l\;i-'".'.-d I': r the Woid' h \v.ri of ilit'ir i!:uH'-=i. »;it ii' t>.. -~-.; !hts I f ill.'- reli'i us bo-dies :M.ue rv.Mig t!:o:ns; h <.-■ upon a eer'am course of instruction, up-ui non-eo;:- '. iivcr-d.-;! s.-.0j.'.-ts. rnd also rc<-e:v. •!u. wiiito;: <vr..--.':it ':f tho par-!!-. I ~._,., ../i-i-v r: as •:!. ::- flu , n:iM r;t .'iv ..,. " ;i ..].;<■;.; ;M v ed"C'!r -:! men. ih.V ■■•.-•■.• >d-:.:dd at! /:> ' ■■ - ■ I "I" ''I ',> !';'' -inaiilicl snb-.-iilutes up 'f ccvi:: ; .-. '~-,<.-, -v; 1 '.;-i\-i- S -ripti! •"■.■■ rea , '::.-' l-'-y us wi''h f\p!-inatioi:s. T'/riiildri'i! |>:>r?nts ;■■■o.j--*f ■■' : ,--:ild have oth:r rrodiiMj; liv.«ons .■•.!!i!iili-»--.'"i''lv. Sevr:i! vears ac>. v.dien Mr ii -in .'-'U-v. u : >r-!s tli- of Mk t-h' -tors of .i'ds ci i• -■ t-itm- :'.-y. I :■■-•!'■•_ ed him a qu;-'H',u -t :\ mcclinf: >'t i.is in Levin : ,: !f l!; - H t.lie differ, lit dei!!).i iu:'.f icr.s ci , ;:! uiioii the uiaii'icr of I'i'ile i,, .'•■i-heols. wonM he sonp v u if; ii.t:-: ].•-!--■! ?'' ->" ' ill reply '' • s'lid he ci.M'tainly Won Id do ?o. An ' ftatenieiiA h:'d tlie aiinroval of U'li; meetinti'. Tih- , n'ini.sters (d several havr , r.:i".agreed U|)on a conunon h: and j' if- \< t1 ,, . , d- ,:; ire of the ncople if wil' 1,... rrivi'it.'-i or the el-.'cticn f.f a com ;,.jtt"--» M-hi'-, , ! will liav , i-he well'ar-" ;■!' Ih'. 1 chil'lr'.-n at heart, in prel'ei-- <.|, ( .;. to t'l' 1 |irer--..-.it. :n;t : '|:i-Is-1 s\-ti'iii.-Yi'iir'. «t-.. -J. PKOI'SK.