TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2509, 5 April 1881, Page 2

TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The usual monthly meeting of the above was held last evening. Present —Messrs Walcot (chairman), Hart, Rowlev, Reilly, and Hall. Mr Scott,"headmaster of the Public School, reported the attendance as follows :—Boys on the roll, 228 ; average attendance, 191. Miss Forbes reported —Girls on the roll, 233 ; average, 193. Miss Quinlan reported-—lnfants on the register, 459 ; average, 347. Miss Kcpteven reported an average attendance of 154 at the Side School, the number on the roll being 103 boys and 99 girls. A request by Mr R. Harvey for the use of a room in (he Public School for instruction in geometry and building construction daring the winter months, and offering to pay a rental of £3 per per quarter was declined. [Mr Hogg at this stage entered the meeting.] Mr Haggett, President of the Y.M.O. Association, forwarded an application for the use of (he Side School during the winter on Sunday evenings for divine service.

It was resolved to refuse the application, but to intimate that clergymen would on application he allowed the use of the building in turn subject to reasonable conditions.

It was moved by Mr Hart, seconded by Mr Rowley, and carried—“ That the Board of Education be asked to sanction the permanent appointment of three pupil teachers to the Timaru Side School in addition to the head mistress already appointed, the average attendance for last quarter having reached 152.”

Mr Reilly, in accordance with a notice of motion he had given at the previous meeting, proposed—“ That this Committee take into consideration the necessity of Bible reading in schools.”

In support of his views on Bible instruction Mr Reilly quoted freely from a pamphlet on the subject containing extracts from sketches of Sir if. Robinson, Sir W. Fox, Dr Menzies, and others. He contended that parental effort, Sunday schools, and churches were quite unequal to the task of evangelising the infant heathen, and that on the’ school teacher, armed with the Bible, must devolve the duty of establishing infantile morality on a sound religious basis. He quoted an article in support of Bible instruction in the “Timaru Herald,” of July 12, 1880, aud concluded by fervently hopingthat the Committee would reflect on the hereafter, and give the question their earnest consideration. Mr Hart seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Hogg dissented from the motion on several grounds. Ho contended that the question of Bible reading and instruction had been definitely settled by the Legislature ; that the Bible was a stumbling block to that portion of the community who disagreed with its doctrines, or disbelieved its authenticity ; that public schools were essentially work-rooms for the training of the intellect, and not for the promulgation of theological dogmas; that the Bible was not a suitable text book for children who were simply learning to read ; that school teachers should net be employed as religious instructors ; aud that the introduction of Creed in State schools would Drove, an piemen t. nf dionpiG —J a hindrance to the kind or education which was required for the cultivation of the mental faculties. He maintained that the consciences of children should be left free and untrammelled ; that they should have as much freedom of choice in religious matters as is consistent with moral ethics and the judicious advices of parents and friends ; that the Bible was often rendered repugnant by being drilled into children before they were capable of understanding its teachings, and that to force the Bible upon the school as a text book would be an injustice alike to teacher and pupil, Mr Hart approved of Bible reading and regretted that the old provincial system was not still in force. The Chairman said he endorsed every word that Mr Hogg had uttered, and he hoped he would not live to see the day when Bible reading would be reintroduced in the public schools

At this stage it was resolved-on the motion of Mr Reilly, to postpone the discussion for a fuller meeting. A number of accounts were passed for payment. Messrs Hogg and Hall for tbe Main School, and the Chairman and Mr Hart for the Side School, were appointed Visitors for the current month.

The meeting then terminated