SECTARIANISM IN THE SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2017, 26 March 1914, Page 7

SECTARIANISM IN THE SCHOOLS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—May r bo allowed to deal with the vital points of tho most recent attempt by Mr. Williams to defond the programme and methods of the Bible-in-Schools League?' (1) Your correspondent 'says that I ''approve Mr. Seddon's Referendum Bill (including Bible-in-schools) as. statesmanlike, but attack tho proposed referendum now." What I did-say was:' ."Canon Garland knows that Switzerland has adopted ■ tho principle : of the referendum with initiative. Tho same course was proposed in Mr.- Seddon's Bill. This is a statesmanlike courso of action, but Carioii Garland does not suggest that his leaguo should retraco its steps and urge the adoption of the referendum as part of our legislative machinery." Does_ your correspondent see no difference' in these statements? Tho courso adopted by the Bible-in-Schools League is not the" courso adopted iii Switzerland or proposed by Mr;" Seddon. One of the elementary rulesof fair controversy is to quoto your op--poneiit accurately and hot ■ misrepresent him.

. (2T Your correspondent says I "stoutly. defend tho Nelson system, giving ministers tho right of entry, but vehemently. charge individual ministers who teach religion in schools with breakingthe.law."' Does your correspondent hot know that under tho Nelson system' the religious 'lessons arb held." outside tho legal school hours:, arb purely voluntary for both teachers' and pupils, and aro not a breach of the law ? In Dunedin the lessons are held after the School is opened, i.'e.j after the pupils and teachers have, assembled, and aro a breach of the law ? ■ (3) Your correspondent says that I "once more -wriggle over Switzerland. The first issue was raised by the Defence League, who questioned if the referendum'was applied in that .country to re-' ligious questions." Will Mr. Williams supply the needed reference, saying who made the statement, and whore?'- I havo already given Canon Garland's reference to, Switzerland. •'•■■■

What we find in Switzerland is abso-' lute sectarianism—iio Catholic teacher appointed to a Protestant school, noProtestant to a Catholic school. When we remember that the Bishop of Christchurch has lai3 it dowu that undenominational teaching is not Christian teach-' ing, wo understand, perhaps, the approval of Switzerland's system by tho Bible-in-Schools League. Perhaps Mr; ,Willianis might Chratchurcli toanswer the,, question-: To what denomination did Jesus "belong?—l am, etc., . •; - - thos', a.', hunter; Wellington, March 20, .1914.