INSPECTORS' OPINIONS:

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 August 1914, Page 5

INSPECTORS' OPINIONS:

Inspector Dennis (Dubbo District)

Scripture is taught in all schools, and in most cases the lessons are given regularly, either once or twice a wflek. The instruction follows the prescribed course, and is wholly unsectarian. No complaint has been made to me as to want of respect for the religious views of any denomination. The history of Joseph stands high in the favour of the children ; the early life of Moses also proves very interesting. Ir the New Testament they turn with, delight to the stoiy of Christ's birth and the shepherds of Bethlehem, the Good Samaritan, and other parables. But the rest is not neglected. Speaking generally, the narrative element predon.inates. The Lord's Prayer is well known, and most of the scholars know something of the Ten Commandments. In the narratives the details are apt to smother the main theme. Pupils can trace the journeyings of Paul step by step when they have no idea why he was journeying at all. Often the stories themselves, however striking, fade from their minds. When called upon to tell a story they have been taught they show an amazing forgetfulness, and what they do remember has to be drawn from them piecemeal by detailed and suggestive questioning. Very little will they tell of their own accord. The reason for this is, I think, that during instruction they have not sufficient practice in retelling what, they have heard ; they are merely hearers of the word, not speakers of it. Especially is this the case with the younger children when they are joined with more advanced classes for an oral lesson, This is a fault which prevails in lessons on other subjects as well as Scripture lessons. . j

Notwithstanding all defects, the ISeripture teaching given in our schools is of undoubted value. In some parts of this district, which are quite out of reach of church or Sunday school, the religious teaching given in the public school is all that the children ever receive. And for that they are not dependent on the teacher alone; the clergyman is a f/equent visitor. During the year the nuoiber of visits made by ministers ana others for the purpose of giving special religious instruction was no less than 1.336. The Bush Brotherhood, whose headquarters are at Dubbo, make the visiting of small bush schools a special feature of their work. The visiting cleigy are gladly, welcomed by both scholars and teachers ; the latter regard them as valuable co-workers,

It frequently happens that the pupils of different denominations with the consent of their parents, ai'e combined on these occasions, so that the lines of division, instead of being accentuated, are aotuaDy blotted out.

Inspector .McCoy, B. A. (Lismore District:

Scripture—ln the lower part of the school this is usually a popular subject. Stories from the authorised Scripture lessons are graphically told, and are illustrated by suitable pictures Though the story be old, the skilful teacher put 3it in a setting new to the children, and the good pictures that he provides add fresh^ ness to the treatment.

The following official instructions issued by the Department for the guidance of teachers illustrate the nature of the toaching required in connection with the Scripture lessons:

1. Special Religious Instruction $ In practice it works out that olergymen visit certain schools at weekly, monthly, or irregular intervals, and instruct the children of their particular denomination for from 40 to 60 minutes During the last quarter (June. 1909) 381 such visits were made by Ohurcb of Englaud, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and other clergymen and teachers. Twp hundred and thrpp qf these'visits weie paid to eight large town schools, and the balance of 178 visits were divided amongst the remaining 109 schools of this district; 37 of these were not visited at all, and 18 others once only, A child is excused from attending these classes if the parent objects. I have never known any parent to, object. " r

2. General Eeligious Instruction is imparted as secular instruction As in the previous case, no pupil is required to receive such instruction if the parent objects. Occasionally objections are received, and these aie always carefully reppgnised and provided f>'i\