SECULARISM IN EDUCATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3037, 2 January 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

SECULARISM IN EDUCATION.

At the Mulliodist Ecumenical C'uufuroui'.o at Washington, a paper wan mid by IUo ltuv, \V. U. L'itchett, B.A.,uf Molbournu, upon "Tin! Religious Training iind Cultiiro of tho Youth?." Ah Mγ litohctt was unable to attend the Cfinforijni'.i), his paper was roud by tho Rev. W. Morley of New Zealand. Mr FitcheU. predicted that, it would not be lonp before the world was under a control of free, compnl-orr, and snoulur ediifition in the primaryschools. Tho Chutvh should carofu'.ly watch tho growing free school systems, otherwise sccul.ir crlucution would heroine not only Tion-OhrUtinn, but billr-rly :uui-C!inkis!j. Victoria had im-.de fhs t-taniattl tiud weliniirn filial lui.-lukr. Tho 'iiit'noi'itics fchero hnd haui. lied from primary education everything tltnt could bo objected to on religions grounds. Th:J Now Testament wan banished to please tho Jew, and both Tr-etumonts to please tho Infidel. History was next banished to satisfy tho Catholic, and almost every trace of lelierion to appease tho atheist. But the Biblo was so subtly interwoven with English literature, that it was found that the very schoolbookx of tho children hud au offensivo flavour to secular palates so tho lesson books were dissected, not to say disiufeoted, and every trace of Ohristauity effaced. Longfellow's "liespcrurt" and Burns ' "Cottar's Saturday Night" wuro multilated to purge them from Christian references. Bud they had found that authoritative morality had disappeared with the Bible. Then the State had tried to teach, morality on the basis of utilitarianism. A boy had been tauirht to be honest because it puid best, and not to lie lest he should be fonnd out. Tlie Go»pel aj-'ordinjf to St. Mathew was forbidden, and the Gospel according to John Stuart Mill substituted. Mr Fitchett's paper nwda a deep impression upon tho Conference.