INSPECTORS' OPINIONS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 7 August 1914, Page 5

INSPECTORS' OPINIONS.

Mr A. Lobban, Senior Inspector of Schools, N.S.W., 45 years' experience as a teacher and inspector in the Department, writes: —

" I can assure the teachers and people of Queensland that the experience of the teachers in New South Wales has been that no sectarian trouble has ever arisen in conuoction with the r. adiu^ of the Scripture lessons in the schools, or the visits of the clergymen during school hours to give 'special religious instruction. Indeed, our teachers gladly acknowledge that the special religious teachera' aid has been of solid assistance, to them in their efforts to train their pupils to becomo. moral and upright citizens All teachers are required to give the selected Scripture lessons, and In no case has any refusal to do so taken place, nor has any complaint ever been made to the- Department that the lessons have been ridiculed or made light of. In all my experience, I have never found teachers dissatisfied with th« working of the Act in regard to religious instruction in New South Wales As a rule the. teachers find the clergymen's influence most helpful, and gladly assist in aiding them in their good work. It is to the teachers' advautage, too, to meet cultivated men like the clergymen, who prove to be coworkers with them iv the up-building of character in their work. It has sometimes been said that teachers,, or some of them, are not in sympathy with this pait of their duty. In a very large bod)' of teachers, such as we have had iv New South Wales, it may be possible that a few of the more than five thousand persons em^ ployed as teachers may not be as sympathetic as they should b>; but as no case of the kind has ever been officially reported, such teachers must be few indeed. I remember once lister ing to a young teacher, who was a member of the Roman Catholic Ohuch, giving a New Testament lesson to his pupils. 1 was struck with the excellence of tho lesson, and impressive way in which it was given. At its conclusion 1 asked the teacher if he had any conscientious scruples in connection with the teaching of the tegular Scripture lesson, and he assured me/that he had not, and added that he liked giving the lesson. I know nothing that has rlonn so much to remove sectarian bitterness and religious misunderstandings between members of the various churches than the possession of this inestim able privilege in the public schools of this State. The teachers are selected without reference to their religious denomination, and hence members of different denominations worK together on the same staff, and learn toc respect each other as friends and 00-workers, and never interfere with each other's religious belief. Children of varions denominations are ranged side by side in the classes and read the Scripture lessons together ; but no reference to churches is allowed—the child's religiou is bold sacred. When they separate to go for special religious instruction to their pastors, no more notice is taken of the fact by the pupils than if the class had been broken into sections for speoial instruction in secular work."

Ispectoi Byrne, Braid vrood Pi strict, says ; Scripture and Morals,-=- Scripture 'reading is satisfactory, and the n.oral stories and fables are usually treated in an interesting manner. Generally the instruction given in Scripture and morals is effective, and evidence of this, and of jrhe pood ruoral influence of the teachers, is seen in the good manners, respectfulness, obedience., and general goqd behayiqur; p,f the pupilg. Mr J, 0. ftfaynar.l. Chief luspector of Schools, N ? S.W V in a letter dated, 14th June, 189-:, wrote ; •' The ge.ne.ral opinion is that the regulation allowing this instruction is a valuable on-*, and, should, not he distii!-be<}.'' Inspector Efendergon Gj-ra.ftqij District ; O'.viov— In so:no ons-^ pop try or short pithy extraots are introduced with good effect. In one good school the following questions, inrnr alia, were discussed ; ■' What d..qs the Bible say about freedom ?" " wj-jat do.es Wilton say ah.o^t yirtue ji" ■' Whatciqes TVfacauh^y say o>;u.t the Rouvuis 1-ecqg-q'sing tb,eiv duties n,s citizens <i" The yiinple iju >Ht.ip,nß probably did more to impress the pupils than hours of sermonising. Scriptu-r. --The ujippr classes road j 111 o authorised Script lire 1- .ssons | regularly. In t]io lower daises pictifrff<( reproHennrju' Bihlipal stories and soeiiP.-, iv,.^ i.jtjerl vj'ith <rnn<] »fiV c t. I There is a spjpvuiid series of- piqi'ureH issued hy the Bibjft Society ad hirubly suited for the teaching <J little ones The pictures are fas. ten eel to a roller uhi«h ifi&y }-)•> readjly suspfuded from | an easel. ' They are ciieap, stTi'kingly j iliiustrated, and in several cas= s have j contributed much to eii'ective and j attractive teaching.