ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue I, 16 July 1842, Page 75

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

[We hare been requested to state, though at too late a period to allow of any material alteration in the following letter, that Mr. Young thinks he has reason to believe that the new memorial will be no further proceeded with. We are very glad to hear this. — Ed.l To the Editor o» th* Nelson Examine*. Sir — When those who were actively interested in procuring the establishment of schools in this settltment prepared the memorial to the directors of the New Zealand Company, which bag been published in your columns, they first convened a public meeting, stated unreservedly their views and intentions, and did all that was in their power to preserve unanimity among their fellow-colonists. With a view to this last object, they proposed that it should be stated in the memoI rial that the memorialists w«re prepared to adopt the system of the British sod Foreign School Society. Their purpose was to ensure the cooperation of those persons who

With a view to this last object, they proposed that it should be stated in the memorial that the memorialists w«re prepared to adopt the system of the British sod Foreign School Society. Their purpose was to ensure the cooperation of those persons who

dissented from f he doc-irine and discipline of the established church. It was by no means desired to thrust forward any particular theory ; but it was felt that, as many inhabitants of Nelson are members of the kirk of Scotland, and as there are among us persons of various persuasions, we were bound to respect the scruples of all, and we endeavoured to suggest a plan 'which all might conscientiously combine to adopt. Some of us, whose opinions on such matters differ very widely indeed from those of the members of every church, and who believe that a far more liberal system than that suggested in the memorial would be preferable, were willing to forego our private wishes for the sake of securing the unanimity which seems to us so essential. We have learned, with much surprise, that an attempt has been made to defeat our end — the common end of the inhabitants — by representing that we are insidiously labouring to abolish religious instruction, that the system we proposed is calculated to subvert religion, and that we had endeavoured, by specious misrepresentation, to entrap people into signing our memorial. We cannot help drawing attention to the fact that, while we courted inquiry and discussion, and invited all, without distinction, to join in our request, the originators of this attempt to frustrate our intentions convened no meeting, gave no public notice of their proceedings, and went the length, as we are informed, of framing a counter-memorial, without acquainting the public with their movements. It is only within the^se few days that these proceedings came accidentally to our knowledge. Our purpose, sir, is not however to reproach these gentlemen, who have doubtless acted conscientiously. We only appeal to their candour and public spirit, now that we emphatically disavow the intentions which have been ascribed to us, to avoid the great scandal of forming divisions in this comrnfinity, where, more than in any other case, unanimity is so desirable. Surely we have not come so far from the scene of civil and religious contention " To breathe short-winded accents of new broils, To be commenced in stronds afar remote." Let us rather hope that our little band may be knit the closelier for that our lot is cast so far away ; and may our union be preserved by cultivating the larger charities and kindlier sympathies of our common nature. With this, then, we invite our fellowcolonists, who, doubtless misapprehending our real motives, have been induced to secede from us>, again to join us in friendly co-operation, and to forego, as we on our side have foregone, certain prejudices, predilections, and even cherished opinions, for the sake of securing to this settlement a system of education, of whose advantages persons of every persuasion may conscientiously avail themselves. We beg to subjoin an extract from a letter from Lord John Rusuell to the President of the Council, dated (we believe) June 3, 1 839, which, it is hoped, may effectually set at rest the question which has so unfortunately arisen : — " Among the first objects to which any grant may be applied, will be the establishment of a normal school. In such a school a body of schoolmasters may be formed, competent to assume the management of. similar institutions in all parts of the country. In such a school, likewise, the best modes of teaching may be introduced, and those who wish to improve the schools of their neighbourhood may have an opportunity of observing their results. " In any normal or model school to be established by the board, four principal objects should be kept in view; namely, religious instruction, general instruction, moral training, and habits of industry. Of these four, I need only allude to the first. With respect to religious instruction, there is, as your lordship is aware, a wide, or apparently wide, difference of opinion among those who have been most forward in promoting education. " The National Society, supported by the Established Church, contend that the schoolmaster should be invariably a Churchman ; that the Church Catechism should be taught in the school to all the scholars, that all should be required to attend church on Sundays, and that the schools should be, in every case, under the superintendence of the clergyman of the parish. " The British and Foreign School Society, on the other hand, admit churchmen and dissenters equally as schoolmasters, require that the Bible should be taught in their schools, but insist that no caiecbism should be admitted. " Others, again, contend that secular instruction should be the business of the school, and that the ministers of the different persuasions should each instruct separately the children of their own followers. " In the midst of these conflicting opinions, there is not practically that exclusiveness among the Church societies, nor that indifference to religion among those who exclude dogmatic instruction from the school, which their mutual accusations would lead bystanders to suppose. " Much, therefore, may be effected by a temperate attention to the fur claims of the Esta-

Wished Church, and the religious freedom sanctioned by law.

" On this subject, I need only say that it is her Majesty's wish that the youth of this kingdom should be religiously brought up, and that the right of conscience should be respected." We have the honour, &c. (Signed) John Kerr. Wt illiam Curling Young.