"GODLESS EDUCATION"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 209, 10 May 1912, Page 2

"GODLESS EDUCATION"

CLERGYMAN DEFENDS THE STATE SCHOOLS. Wanganui, May <3. At the anniversary services of Trinity Wesley an Sunday School yesterday, the Rev. J. A. Luxford made some interesting remarks on what is frequently called "our Godless education system," which were in striking contrast to some clerical utterances on the subject. He said he had no sympathy with those who called our State system of education Godless. One of the reading books in use in the schools was full of moral lessons and lifted the mind of the child into a Tefrned atmosphere. Still, it was necessary to touch the heart of the child and appeal |to its sympathy. There was something deeper and nobler than morality. He had heard it stated that 90 per cent, of ! the State school children attended Sunday schools, and he had no reason to doubt that statement. The religious education of children was essential to the maintenance of natural prosperity, and t the teacher of Sunday schools deserved ■the thanks and recognition of the State as well as the Church. He gave a Bible lesson once a week in the State school to about 70 children, and was pleased to And most of them had a fair knowledge of Bible history and Scriptural truths. His experience, both here and in other parts of the Dominion, where he had given Bible lessons, was that the parents Were pleased for the children to attend, that t'he children's behaviour was good and reverent, and that they were intensely interested in the lessons. The civilised heathen children that some people raved about he had not met, except in isolated cases. 'I .. U' Wll> I I—■ I