OPINION OF SIR HENRY PARKES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1981, 24 May 1919, Page 4

OPINION OF SIR HENRY PARKES.

Sir floury Park os. (J.C.M.G., who itii- J op! viai! ul Aumr.iim, ' was a r (I ]>lm >t ! ( 1 1! i of •> ycvul;U‘ 01! I, l ' ’ 11! ii II! .-■yslem, in UP work k*t! ‘•Kil’i.v year- in tlio makin'.! 1 <>l' A,.-!r ; . 1mn 1 iistunv* vnj. ii, page 2, ho records ; “Jn JB73’.T defeated a resoliilion moved, (ho oh.jeol of whieli was lo seeulariso t!ie school syslem, Anollier motion w.as made in 1877. ■’ Other attempts of the same character were made wfiioh I stoiidily resisted.” (page II.) It was decided to repeal the Aet of 18(i(i, to ostahlish a department of Public l Inst motion in place of ;i Council of Ediumlioii. The new Bill ams brought in on November 5, 1871), (by Sir Henry Parkes). “Throughout .all these years whenever any attlek was made from .a secular point of view by those who based (heir arguments upon their objection to denominational schools I have defended those schools. . , . Hcoords of Parliament are sudieienl to prove that attempts have been repeatedly made for an amendment of this law; but they have, as far as my recollection serves, been made in nearly every instance in the direolion of more secular schools of education. Whenever up to the present lime these attacks have keen made, 1 have felt ii my duty to defend the existing law. . . . By the Ael of 1880, which is still the law, it is provided that the leaching shall be strictly non-sec-tarian, .and the words “secular instruction” are defined to include general religious instruction as distinguished from dogmatical orpolemieal theology. . , A portion of each day is sol apart when the children of any one religious persuasion may be instructed by the clergyman or other religious teacher of such persuasion, . . .

Tho Scripture lesson-books which were adopted in (he Irish National schools are.used as class books subject to the objection of any parent; ... It will be observed that the public school system of Now South Whiles endeavours to carry out with its (caching the inculcation of the cardinal principles of our common Christianity and avoid touching on any point of polemical doctrine. . . . Although the system is strictiy nonsectarian, it is not in the least sense secular; it admits Scripture lesson books which leach the cardinal principles of Christianity and it allows religions teachers to collect the children of their denomination and instruct them for a limited time apart from the other pupils, but in no way to interfere with the discipline of the school Of course there are reformers . , , who would banish the name of religion from the schools. It is so easy to “sweep away” and to “ abolish” But then the system of primary education was not established to carry out any idea of charily, or to make children strangers to the faith of their fathers ” As (he above principles of Bihle reading in schools have boon retained to this day in all the above countries, one is forced to conclude that a secular system of education as “a back number.” —I am, etc., A NEW ZEALANDER.