EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS’ VIEWS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS’ VIEWS

FURTHER REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE.

Th© following replies Lav© been received by the secretary of the Citizens Bible in Schools Committee (Mr. Knox H. Smith) from educationists of status in reply to a questionnaire eent asking opinions on Bible reading in schools:— Mr. Guy N. Pocock. assistant master, Royal Naval College. Dartmouth, England, a witness at the British Governraent’s Departmental Education Committee which sat in London, replied April 28, 1927: “I am convinced of the great value of Bible lessons in schools, noth as ethics and as literature. To supgort my view I would add that Dr. ridges, the Poet Laureate, talked over this matter with me a few weeks ago. His view is that the decay of the old lessons, and tho utter lack of any adequate substitute, are making for disaster in the future. I have often talked it over with Sir Arthur Quiller Couch, who is convinced of the paramount importance of Bible reading in schools. And I remember Sir Walter Besant, tho novelist and social reformer, telling me that his writing was entirely based on the study of the Bible. . ■ Long experience in the upbringing of boys has convinced me that an ethical training is tho first essential, and that the Bible is by far the best vehicle for imparting right ideas. This miracle of a translation has become so much a. part of English life and language that to cut it out would; leave a far greater gap than the omission of Shakespeare. I have taught boys of every grade; I am convinced that Bible teaching is most important—both ethics and as literature.” Mr. P. Kitchen, B.Sc., A.M.1.C.E., organiser of Future . Education,. Kugby, England, was a witness at the Government Departmental Education Committee held in London. Replying in favour under date April 28, Mr. Kitchen comments: "To put it at the lowest estimate, the Bible was the fount of inspiration for our more immediate ancestors; ths only hook read by most of them. Tho translations wore derived after infinite tender care, impossible to bestow on any other book, and therefore the book stands alone as a model of pure English. If historical study has any meaning at all we cannot for a moment contemplate ignoring this monument bequeathing to us the thoughts which moved our ancestors and the purest terms in which they expressed these thoughts. This is to say nothing of the undoubted direct contribution it has to make to modern civilisation." Professor A. .1. Wyatt, M.A.. Cantab et London, 8.A., Birm., Lecturer in English in the University of Cambirdge, sometime Examiner in English in the Universities of Cambridge, London, Victoria, Wales and Calcutta; a witness at the British Government Departmental Education Committee, replied in favour on Afay 22. Ho states: "In my opinion, in the English of the Old Testament is to be found the finest prose I have ever met in the eight languages that I read. . . .1 have been struck with the number of men. such as Rousseau ajirl Victor Hugo, whom wo do not regard ns eminent Christians, but who have insisted on the highest possible value of the Bible in the formation of character.” Mr- H. Wilkinson, late inspector of schools, Manchester,. a witness representing the Association of Preparatory Schools at tho British Government’s Departmental Education Committee which sat in London, wrote on. .Tune 29: "I have no hesitation in giving you an opinion as to the value of Bible resting and Bible teaching in elementary schools. Aly experience as scholar, teacher and inspector, ranging over a period of more than 50 years, lias proved to me that Bible instruction is an essential part of education. The ethical—ns well as the cultural—value of such instruction cannot be overestimated. The so-called tone of a school in which Bible reading is taken and Bible lessons are given invariably reaches a high level; in short, a pleasing atmosphere is produced by such instruction. It is natural that the finest and most lasting effects are produced during school life, as this is the most impressionable period of existence.” Professor A. H. S'ayce, Professor of Assyriology,' Queen’s College. Oxford, philologist, antiquary and excavator in Egypt: Hibbert and Gifford Lecturer, Tenlied in favour on Afay 17. Ho states; “The Authorised Version is one of the foundations of literary English. Every scientific philologist .would say: Most certainly, it would give a boy a better command of tho English language.” He comments: "All the cultures of the past, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman, have made what we should term a religious education an essential part of general education. It is only in semi-civilised societies that this has not been tho case.” Right Hon. Sir Gilbert Parker, Bart., declared in favour of Bible in schools on April 27. . . The British Government s Departmental Committee, mentioned above, declared itself strongly in favour of an increased us© of the Bible in all schools as one of the greatest 'creative works in English literature.