STRONG PLEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 9

STRONG PLEA.

RELIGIOUS ASPECT. PLACE IN EDUCATION. SECULAR SYSTEM CRITICISED. Stating that the secular system of education in New Zealand was largely assisting to turn out into the world unbalanced lives, Mr. J. Victor Macky, president of the Auckland Grammar Sijliool Old Boys' Association at the reunion dinner oil Saturday night, made a strong plea for the introduction of some religious element into education. "We give the boys and girls of our land the finest mental training that our system can devise," the president said. "No country offers greater opportunities for the development of the body physical, but I think we may ask in all seriousness, are we doing the best possible for the development of the moral and spiritual forces that are implanted in each young life 1" It just so happened, he said, that the next day marked the culmination of a great campaign in the city, which had for its objective the awakening of the young people in the city to the value and necessity of faith and religion as vital and dynamic forces in daily living.

Mr. Macky feared, that tlie secular svstem of education in New Zealand was largely assisting to turn out unbalanced lives, lives not fully equipped, lives developed mentally and physically to the exclusion largely of the moral and the spiritual. Perhaps lie might put it another way, he added. The educational system, was doing little to culminate the highest and noblest aspirations of youth; a knowledge of the Creator and man's relations with Him. Neglect of Spritual Seed. "Youth passes out of our schools into the rough and tumble of life," the speaker said. "They struggle against temptation and all the forces of evil with nothing to guide them but tlieii own inherent sense of right and wrong and what conforms to decent standards. In consequence of the neglect of the spiritual seed of life wo are reaping, and shall continue to reap, a harvest in keeping with such a policy." The Bible, which would give young people faith in their Creator, a clear "conviction of right and wrong, and the strength, courage aiul power to meet life with all its temptations victoriously, that book was not deemed worthy of a placc in the system of education. "With a natural interest in the welfare of bovs, and with thoughts of the recent successful campaign in our midst (it was evident the speaker was referring to the Youth for Christ campaign), my mind lias been impressed with the responsibility of the older men to the lads following on," Mr. Macky added. "Let us give them the best equipment for the battle of life, the whole armour, not just a part, so that they will be able to take their place worthily in the community.