TEACHING OF EVOLUTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 663, 15 May 1929, Page 11

TEACHING OF EVOLUTION

MAY BE DISCUSSED AT CONFERENCE BOARD S COMMENT Whether talks on evolution should be permitted in schools or not is a question that will probably occupy a good deal of the attention of educationalists in New Zealand. Members of the Auckland Education Board made references to evolution this morning and left the question to be raised in a remit from the board at the approaching conference of boards of education in Wellington. Mr. G. Brownlee began the discussion by mentioning several books received by the Education Department with direct bearing on the question of evolution. “I do not think these books are entirely desirable if there are to be extracts quoted before young people,” Mr. Brownlee remarked “One of the books is by Hendrick Van Loon, and l am by no means certain that the subject is advisable for quotations before young students. It appears to me that no harm can be done by discussing the use of these books at the conference in Wellington.” Mr. A. Burns, chairman of board, pointed but that the books were obtained after a long conference of educationalists in Wellington. FOR REFERENCE Mr. T. U. Wells: The book mentioned by Mr. Brownlee is simply a book to which teachers might refer when discussing the theory of evolution. Mr. Burns: Some churches, or their branches, have taken up the subject in earnest, I notice. I think the conference would take days to arrive at any decision. '•I strongly object to the Auckland Board identifying itself with a pronouncement on such a controversial subject as evolution/’ Mr. J. Boddie said. “I doubt the vviseness of such a course.” Mr. E. C. Banks: There is bound to be a good deal of discussion if we bring forward the subject. A letter from Kereone, Morrinsville, stated that the school committee there strongly disapproved of evolution being taught in the Kereone School. The board received the letter.