Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 7 August 1913, Page 34

Notes

Held Over Owing to exceptional pressure on our space a quantity of matter, including comments on Catholic Federation meeting, is unavoidably held over. A Teacher's Viewpoint We have pleasure in reproducing and drawing attention to the following admirable letter, contributed by Mr. James Aitken, head master of the Victoria Avenue State School, Wanganui, to the Wanganui Chronicle of August 1. Mr. Aitken's communication is all the more weighty in that that gentleman is not only head master of the largest public school in Wanganui but is also a prominent, Presbyterian Church worker and Sunday School teacher. Under the heading 'Bible in Schools/ Mr. Aitken writes':' ' Sir,— is with much pain and regret that I find myself enable

to adopt the view of this highly important subject held by my y brethren of the Evangelical ; Churches. • I'yield to' no man in my admiration and approval of the Bible as the source of the highest morality known to the human race. I regard the Bible as the Word of God, arid'for years have been, endeavoring to bring my fellow Christians ; to realise the loss that the future citizens of this ' Dominion are sustaining through the denial to them of the early religious teaching which ought to be regarded as their birthright. But I believe that the programme of the Bible-in-Schools. League is not the proper solution of the problem, and my reasons for so believing are three:—l. It does not safeguard the children from the malign influences of such teachers as might be sceptical, materialist, or profane. 2. places the heavy end of the work on the shoulders of the State school teachers; and 3.1 t will in a very short time, if adopted, lead to the introduction of a religious test in the appointment of teachers.' A few words under each of these heads. I do not say that I know of any teachers who fall into any one of these categories, but it is quite conceivable that there may be such teachers. There has been no test to determine what are teachers' views on religious questions, and, so far, what each teacher thinks concerning the Fundamentals of Religion is entirely his or her own affair. It is said, of course, that teaching of a dogmatic character is not to be part of the teacher's duties. Probably not, but who or what is to prevent the teacher who holds pronounced opinions contrary to revealed religion from casting doubt by scornful act or gesture (words are .not necessary) upon things which are most surely believed among us? The teacher in his school is like the captain on the deck of his shipit takes a strong man to interfere with him. Say what they will about teachers only being required to hear the lessons read, the teaching work will unquestionably fall upon the members of this profession, whose duties now are heavy enough, and a new syllabus which is promised for the beginning of 1914 will, if what we hear be true, tend nothing to the lightening of their loadrather the contrary. Look at the long lists of lady-teachers, and men too, who are constantly suffering from nervous breakdown as a result of their arduous* work, and then ask if it is expedient to place more work upon them. Finally, I think most people will admit that the third proposition is truethe adoption of the League's programme would lead in the near future to the application of a religious test for teachers' appointments. That does not at present obtain except in districts where any one denomination or sect is .particularly strong. But let us suppose a district in which say, Presbyterianism is largely predominant. Most probably a majority of the School Committee would be Presbyterian. A vacancy occurs in the teachership, and two names are sent on, one of a lady or gentleman of known Presbyterian leanings, and the other of an equally efficient teacher who is known to bo a Roman Catholic. Would the issue be doubtful I trow not. Nor would it be if the supposed conditions were reversed. I disapprove, then, of the handing over of the children's plastic minds to anybody and everybody who may chance to hold a teacher's certificate; I disapprove of any additions to the teacher's already heavy burdens; I disapprove of any measure which will impose a religious test upon persons who have entered the public service merely as teachers of secular That is to say, I disapprove of the League's programme.l am, etc., 'J. Aitken.'