THE '"NELSON SYSTEM."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 April 1910, Page 4

THE '"NELSON SYSTEM."

To tho Editor. Sir,-- Tho promoters of the movement for securing Bible reading in the Levin District High School, hold thiifc a knowledge of the contents of education of that book is absolutely necessary to the proper education of the young. The great and judicious Hookor says: ".Education is the means by which our faculty of reason is made both the sooner and the hotter to judge rightly between truth and error, good and evil." The beauty and the glory of British literature are incomprehensible without <in acquaintance with tho sacred scriptures ; they alonie furnish a satisfactory basis for morality, and reveal and illustrate the principles of civil law and liberty, to which our children must conform in .after life. ft is incumbent upon those holding these convictioins, persistently to seek to apply them in popular education, when to do so as perfectlv consistent with '.lie preservation of the rights of mil parties concerned. This is accomplished by what is known as the "Nelson scheme."

Im stating the case on behalf of those who wish to see this method adopted in Levin I propose mainly to confine myself to an exposition of the salient features of the scheme, in the following brief serias of paragraphs :— I I

THE NELSON SCHEME DESCRIBED.

The Nelson scheme . practically invites Ln cordial co-operation the members of all chrisiion denominations, and others also who are seeking the diffusion of Bible kiiffwledtrn'. Under .the scheme there is no proposal to interfere with the provisions of the Education Act. _ Tt does _ not seek to impose the giving of instruction in Bible knowledge upon unwilling day school teachers, but the voluntary help of such as are in sympathy with the scheme will be cordially welcomed.

An important fcatiiro of the schemo i.s tlin.b parents of .school children are asked by a returnable circular to say yes or no to the proposal to give Bible lessons to their children. The ministers of tho churches concerned in the movement, in any particular locality, 'are responsible for giving Bible lessons in tho schools, and they may if necessary employ as assistants agents accredited by them. The scheme of lessons is arranged bv each association to meet the needs of its particular schools, and no text book is enforced. The usual method is to appoint a teacher for each standard if possible, prepare a. list of lessons, and discourage all denoniinatioiialism. In the work sing a hymn, if convenient; unite in the Lord; prayer or other; lot the children read the portion of Scripture, then expound and close with benediction. The school time required by the Act is two hours forenoon ami two hours afternoon, but in a majority of schools "five hours are given. The Boards, by a recent Appeal Court decision have authority in fixing the legal school hours. The members of Education Boards are elected by members of .the committees of school districts, and each member of committee has one vote. It will thus be obvious that the constitution of school committees, and through them of Education Boards, is in the hands of householders, and with them alone rests the ultimate obligation of deciding the question whether the Bible- shall still rest under the Dan of exclusion from our public scho-oto, or whether with the safeguards indicated above, tho Boards shall be induced to do as somo have already done, to be one half hour out of the twenty-five in the week for instruction in Bible knowledge. The success of the movement, where it has been fairly tried, has been indicated, and the forebodings that sectarian strife, or undue interference with school routine would result have been happily disproved. It only remains for me to add that a committee of resident householders, who are in favour of Bible lessons leirg given in the schools, will be to iay the least of it, as capable of ii-ln.iti-istering the provisions of the lulucation Act, as a coininittoe opposed to Bible lessons. They will not unduly exalt the Bjble lesson to the illjury of general education. Th-it ami will be. in co-operation >'Hh the ICdncation Board and the sir.lf of rlie school, to improve the : «ii-i i .0!..s of both primary and second iry eduti l.ion. to maintain the pnr'\y of the moral atmosphere of the sch-o: a"d to insist upon the. formuion of •terling character and worth in every department of life as the r.-iy worthy aim of education.— f am. JOSEPH WHTTK, Sec. Council of Chur'i'.es. The Manse, Levin.