CORRESPONDENCE.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 115, 22 January 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN SCHOOLS (to the editor of the temuka leader.) Sir, — I take a quiet sort of interest in the discussion now going on about religious teaching in the public schools, and having thought a little about it, I beg to offer a suggestion which, it appears to me, may indicate a possible way on* of one of the greatest of the dilemmas in which the question is at present involved. I need not refer to the various newspaper articles, and correspondence, and resolutions passed on this subject at more or less enthusiastic public meetings, except to state that I believe that their tone and number show that it is the desire of tho majority of the more actively minded of the colony’to have religious teaching re-introduced into our schools The main difficulty in the way of this being done so as to satisfy all, appears to be the choosing of a text book. The protestants desire one version of the Scrintures to be used with comments of one kind ; the catholics desire another version to be used with comments of another kind. Tin's fact must be kept more steadily in view if any compromise is to be arrived at that can satisfy both of these welldefined sects in districts where only one school can be maintained. The discussion should not be about the introduction of the Bible, but about the introduction of the Bibles into schools. The suggestion I have to offer is this. That a commission be appointed from the ablest, men of both sects to compile from both versions, with comments, a text book from which the religions doctrines accepted hy both, and the moral precepts and sanctions accepted by both, may be taught hy a teacher of either persuasion. The commission could appoint some fit person to make the compilation, and afterwards, in friendly communion, carefully revise his work. A similar plan could he adopted with regard to British and European history, and might, indeed, be first applied to these subjects. I should think that a person of sufficient literary ability, and snffi. ienily unbiased in favour of either side, could be found without much difficulty. 1 do not' profess to be well acquainted with the tenets of both parties, but I take it that they agree on the main points, on as many points as, were these well taught, both might he fairly satisfied. If this agreement is less extensive than I imagine it to he, my suggestion will be by so much the loss useful. I can only offer it to the consideration of those competent to judge of its value. It strikes me as absurd to quarrel about the introduction of the Bibles as wholes. They are far too voluminous to be wholly used. Only a very small portion of either can be utilized during the ordinary school course, and this is a strong argument in ifcs.Tf for such a compilation as I have suggested being made. No bard and fast rule respecting the aooption of such a text book should be made. Whenever it should be possible to give greater facilities to each sect to teach those doctrines peculiar to it, the compromise, nut being necessary, could be avoided. But whenever it is impossible to maintain separate schools, I think such aoompmmise would prove more acceptable than the present one, on the principle that “ half a loaf is better khan no bread.” There is a comparatively small number I who might be dissatisfied still—those who I are neither protestants nor catholics— j and a ‘-conscience danse” would be i necessary in their behalf. Judging from the tone of public opinion, however, this , class is not very numerous, and toe hard- j ship the whole of this c’ass suffered | would ho yory small compared with that i

now felt by the manv who belong to the two sects named.—l am, &c., Compromise. - Temuka, Jan. 19, 1879.

RELIGIOUS, NOT DENOMINATIONAL, TEACHING. (to the editor of the temuka leader.) Sir, —As the provision to be made by any community for the education of the rising generation must ever be a subject of deep concern to all, I hope you will allow me to offer a few remarks on your article of the 15th inst. The subject, I may remark, is one in the consideration of which I am no novice, since, besides having brought up eight children of my own, 1 have held in England public employments which brought me into official connection with this on a large scale. It seems to me that it would be a great misfortune were this made a party or political question amongst us, and I object to the classification adopted in your article, as if the system of education established amongst us must be either a wholly secular, or a denominational one. I have, in letters which appeared last year in the Christchurch ‘ Press,’ endeavoured to explain my views of combining with the system of schooling adopted in this colony sufficient elementary teaching in the earlier honks of the O d Testament and in the Gospel history, to be taught by (he same staff of efficient, tra ned masters and mistresses as conduct the other branches- of instruction in the public schools. This, I am convinced, may be done sufficiently for the purpose, without verging into denominational teaching at all. In fact it is done every day in the Board schools of London and other p irts of England. It certainly appears to me to be wholly inconsistent with our position as Christians in this nineteenth century that we should attempt to return to a mere heathen course of instruction to be offered to the young in the public schools. That we should deliberately de-. termine to shut out from the expanding minds and hearts of th-'se thousands of young learners all the elevating teaching by which revelation and chrstianity have so revolutionized European States,'is almost inconceivable, and I have always felt that snch an outrage on common sense, we may say, would never long bo endured, eitlier by the parents or by public opinion in New Zealand. A happy reaction seems to have at length set in, and it is not f ar for any journal to attempt to stem tins reaction by setting up a cry of “ denominationalism,” and attacking a scarecrow of its own invention. I would not deny that there may be cases in large and populous towns, or in connection with Roman Catholics, in which it might be advisable to allow a perfectly well conducted school, approved of by the Government Inspector, to adopt a denominational system as an exception, and provided there were other Government schools within distance, to which children, objecting to the denominational teaching, might resort. We see this plentifully illustrated with the happiess effects in England ; denominational working alongside of Board schools, and being often much preferred by the parents. In fact it appears from recent statistics that notwithstanding the great advantages possessed by Board schools, supported by public rates, the voluntary schools in England still supply about four-fifths of the instruction in day schools, and it was stated by Lord George Hamilton, in the last session of the English Parliament, that had it not been for the large numbers educated in voluntary schools the school rates in England would by this time have amounted to about £7,000,000 per annum. It seems to me eminently unfair 1o assert, as your article does, that the immense sacrifices of labor, time, and money, incurred by the clergy, who led the way in popular education long before politicians recognised its importance was mainly instigated by love of power ? 1 think they may safely despise such insinuations, and leave the facts to speak for themselves. And here I would remark that it seems to lie the fashion amongst these I suppose who know very little about it, to hold up the Church Catechism as a sectarian manual of religious instruction, and to exclude it from the public schools on that account. Hot I think I may confidently challenge anybody to discover from its wording by what denomination of the Catholic Chnrch of Christ it was composed. Does it teach anything about a Chnrch of En-rland, or about even bishops, priest*, and deacons, or about any contruversh 1 tenets which separate our communion from Roman Catholics on the one hand or from Dissenters on the other 1 It is then, I think any impartial judge would say, eminently unsectarian. It contains the barest elements of the truth suited to Babes in Christ, to whatever denomination they may belong. I think anyone who cairfnlly examines it, with the aid of these little compilations of scripture texts which illustrate its statements, will find it a masterly sketch or summary of Christian faith and practice, a thoroughly sound guide for those who undertake—whether as parents or teachers—the not very easy task of initiating in the mind and conscience of youth a knowledge of God’s gracious purposes towards them, and of (heir position as redeemed by the free grace of God. To misuse snch a manual by merely giving it to children to learn by rote, without the lea*t conception of its meaning, is, of course, simply ridiculous, but those who can bring its lessons to bear on , the practical duties of daily life towards God and towards our neighbour, will feel its vaiue. It is a great pity that it should he kept from use by teachers by means of Cooper Temple clauses ins.-rted as an ignor. nt compromise to have the mock appearance of fairness. Our latest attempts at legislation in the religious part of education seem to betray distinct true- s of a pusillanimous compromise in the hope of seciirinir the political support, of the Roman Catholics—an object in which it has egregiomly failed, and therefore it evidently requires revision. Such are the opinions which, as an onlooker, I have been led to form on the system of public instruction organised in this colony as an instrument for raising the aims and aspirations and in forming the conscience of onr youth, matters in which their true happiness is so vitally involved. Yours. S:c., Thomas Tangled. Jan. 17, XS79,

CRICKET

TEMUKA V. 'WINCHESTER. On Saturday afternoon, a match between eleven of Temuka and an eleven of Winchester was played on the grounds of the former club, resulting in an easy victory for Winchester. Temuka played very badly indeed, in no single department of the game being at all up to the mark. This is no doubt attributable to neglect of that practice which, althoiSh** it might not have made them’ perfec.,,. would have enabled them to compete 1 more evenly with their opponents. The Winchester men have taken a good deal of interestin the game this season, and have practiced with a good deal of assiduity, and the natural consequence appears in the result of this match. Temuka went first to the ■wickets, Barker and Roberts facing the bowling of G. Smith and Christmas. Smith was, till lately, a *• college boy,” and was of the College Eleven that played Timaru and Camara earlier in the season. He bowls with much exertion, but fast and fairly ‘ on/ and was, consequently, very respectfully spoken of by the Temuka men. Barker kept his place until four others were disposed of, when he was joined by Cox. He soon after lost his wicket to Smith, having made but one, though staying in nearly ha f the innings. Cox was the only one who made anything of a score, his 25 being the only double figure. The innings of Temuka was interrupted soon after its commencement, to permit of the foot-race reported elsewhere, to be run. On Winchester going to the wickets, it was soon apparent that Temuka was in anything but fielding form. Easy catches were missed, and sharp runs safely made through the field handling the ball badly, and several runs were made for overthrows. Patterson made a long stand for his 19 ; but he ought to have gone out instead of Smith in the case of run out which sent the latter home as his wicket was pul down, and they had not crossed. Christmas followed, and, with Dunnet and Beatson in turn, kept the longfields quite busy for some time. The ground was very rough, and the fast bowling, made erratic by the roughness of the grouud, made goofi long-stopping a difficult matter, and so a good many byes were obtained by both sides. Several slight accidents occurred during the afternoon. Gordon Wood, in making a run, struck and fell over one of the Winchester fields, getting a severe shaking, and hurting his ancle so much that i he was obliged to get some one to run for him, and subsequently to field for ' him —Mr D, Craig doing the latter very j efficiently. Bromley, one of the Winchester men, while standing at squarelea was twice struck sharply by the ball—once on the knee, so severely that he was unable to bat when his turn came, Mr Moir here taking his place. Then, when Temuka was in the field, Barker and Carlyon cannoned with great force as botli tried to secure the same catch their heads came together witli such forces | as almost to stun both. It was much j desired by botli sides that two innings:-i should lie played by each, or the match I declared a draw ; but, as a second inylxtiga 1 | was not commenced, we presume tliart th® j match will be field as concluded. I rate, there can be no doubt an to whicn'T side really won, whatever nominal de- | cision be recorded. The visitors returned J home, well pleased with their perfor- / mances, while the Temuka team—or ] many of them—might have beeA heard moaning “ Iclnbnd ! Ichohocl ! ” orworda j to that effect. The following are the-, { scores j TEMUKA. | S. D. Barker ... —b G. Smith ... 1 j J. Roberts ... —b G. Smith ... 1 I E. Brown ... —b Christmas ... 2R P. S. Carlyon ... —b G. Smith ... Of G. P. Wood ... —b G. Smith ... 71 A. E. Cox ... not out... ... 25»j A. MTntosh ... —b Christmas ... A J. Hardcastlc ... b Christmas ... 4 F. W. Tavender —c Wise 5 J. MTTarlaae ... —b J. Smith ... O G. T. Wood ... cWise 1 Byee ... ... ... ... ••• 18 Leg-byes 4 Wides ... 2 No bells .... ... 1 74 WINCHESTER. | James Paterson b Barks? ... IS, W. Eaton ... c Carlyon ... % ■ A. Dunhett ... —runout... ... K G. Smith ... -—runout... ... 0 G. Christmas —o Brown ... 3C C. Wise ... b Roberts ... <; A. Beatson ... c Carlyon ... Ijjgi T Hughes ... b Cox R. Smith ... b MTntosh ... D- \ H. Smith ... c Craig ... E Moir ... ... —not out /o. Byes ... ... ... ... 22 Leg-byes... ... ... 4 Wsdes ... ... ... ... 11 No bails... ... ... ... 1 229 j Bowling Analysis. | TEMUKA. f 2*£* i J « | g ~ •§ s £ 52 & I onSw £ £ } G. Christmas 19 95 8 23 3 1 If G. Smith ... 14 70 7 14 5 1 0 | A. Dunnett 2 12 1 22 0 0 | J. Paterson 6 30 0 10 0 0 Of WINCHESTER. | Cox ... 14 70 421 5 00 | Carlyon ... 9 45 1 13 0 4 0 | Barker ... 5 25 0 11 1 6 0 { MTntosh ... 10 50 2 27 “0 0 0 | Roberts ... 5 25 0 19 1 1 0/