THE NELSON SYSTEM AND THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS BILL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 12

THE NELSON SYSTEM AND THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS BILL

Sir,—On tha principle that any stick is good enough with which to: beat a dog, tho Nelson system of Bible teaching in the schools is . being used to belabour unoffending clergy, with the object of defeating the Religious Exercises, in Schools Bill. I have had fifteen years’ teaching experience under the Nelson system, in three different, provinces in New Zealand,' in eight different schools, under as many head masters 1 may,- therefore, claim to know' something about the practical working of the system. Mr. Caiighley, late Director of Education, is full of eulogy for the system, but the bluff he put up before the Parliamentary Committee is an astounding exhibition coming from such a man. If Mr. Caughley knows anything about the system and its working, lie ought to have told the Committee about the difficulties of its introduction into any school. He knows thar there must be a request from the parents of the children attending any school, who must see to Hie election of a committee favourable to its introduction, aud the Education Board of the district concerned must give its consent.. I have known socialists and other such, also Roman Cathilie parents, whose children were attending their own denominational school, turn up at an election to prevent a committee favourable to the Nelson system being returned. Just prior to. or during, Mr Caugh ley’s tenure ot office as Director vf Education, the Rotorua parents wantel the Nelson system introduced into their schools, and a committee favourable to it was electeel. But what happened? Mr. Caughley can tell you that the Auckland Education Board vetoed the wish of the parents and the vote of the Rotorua School Committees Mr Caughley now turns round and belabours the clergy fo-- not working the Nelson system. Then he must know that tho Nelson system is general y practised in not outside but inside school hours. During all my years ,o - teaching under this system, I have foun that the authorities winked at the illegally. and’ especially so of recent years, They evidently thought it was politic to do so Anv success that can be attributed to the system ns I have seen it worked, is.largely due to the fact that the instruction was given in School hours and not outside, as Mr. Caughley s ’- a^ s - Take Petone as a sample. How can four or five clergy man all the classes nnd standards in these large schools? Every minister with whom I have worked feels that the Nelson system is but a drop in a bucket- towards supply inc- an ocean of need If all the clergv in New Zealand hnd full opportS to enter tho schools thv could not possibly ’ The Parsonage, Petone.