GODLESS EDUCATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 16, 16 January 1891, Page 17

GODLESS EDUCATION.

The be are still to be found some persons who refuse to admit that our present system of public education is a godlss system, or anti-Christian. To us this seems wonderful. The law, by virtue of which it exists, expressly forbids the teaching of religion, and this is enough for all commonsense people and all without an axe to grind. This system, if it is not godless, 's godly — there is no middle term. But in what sense can it be said to be godly or Christian, since nothing is permitted to be taught concerning God or Christ. Why even the name of Christ and His religion is absolutely ignored under this system. What more needs to be said to prove that it is a godless system ? It is purely secular, md if in any school under it there exist religious teaching this is contrary to the law, a breach of contract, and, consequently, cannot change or modify the system itself. That it is antiChristian is evident. To see this it is only necessary to call to mind what Christ himself says — viz., He that is not with Me is against Me. Ihe system, therefore, which does not recognise and uphold the Christian religion is necessarily anti- Christian. It is in vain, consequently, for the patrons and advocates ot this system to deprecate its being called anti-Christian, for this it is in an intense degree, in as much as it excludes all recognition of Chiust and His religion, and by this exclusion teaches children to esteem mere seculaiism above Christianity as a matter of more importance to society and of more value to the individual than the teaching of Christ. Great stress is laid on the teaching of good manners and orderly habits under this system, and great importance is attached to the developement it gives to the intellect. We do not undervalue these things, but all these can exist and have existed under pure paganism, and to affirm that the obtaining of these results purges the system from the charge of godlessnebs is to talk and write altogether beside the question. ISo ; the present system of public education is utterly godless and anti Christian, and no amount of special pleading and by-play can excuse it or wipe away the charge of godlessuess. It is for the members of a professedly Christian community to seriously consider whether or not they are neglecting their most imperative and solemn duty in any longer tolerating such a system amongst them.