Education and Crime

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 36, 6 November 1933, Page 11

Education and Crime

Sir, —As the writer was the first to ' raise the subject of education and crime, wherein he came to the conclusion that the barring of the Bible teaching in the curriculum of our public schools was a greatly contributary cause of the crime increase, I hope you will allow me space to comment upon the letters that have appeared in your paper from other correspondents. Mv contention has not been questioned seriously, but “H. 0.8. has contended by roundabout and inapplicable arguments, which vour other correspondent, “E. 0.8.. has very effectively demolished, that the Bible should not be allowed in our public schools officially. The worthlessness of “H.0.8.'5” contention may be gauged by his quoting Queen Victoria’s proclam-ation-had he been more ingenuous he might have added that this proclamation was made to India and had nothing to do with New Zealand. The fact, then, remains, and the question arises who are to blame for the absence of moral teaching and that best seller of books in our national schools? It originally may have had something to do with the difference of the various denominations, each wanting its own ideas promulgated, but this can scarcely be the same to-day, for the authorities of many churches have been strongly advocating its introduction. In advocating the introduction of the : best teachings of the Bible I am not adi vocating religion, for as you would know i the root derivation of that word is from ; the Latin “ligare” to “bind,” and I do i not think any instructions to pupils binoi ing them to this or that dogmatic inteiLpretation would be desirable. But there I remains the great moral teachings, prov;ed facts of prophecy and warnings, to say nothing about the light it sheds on British history. “H. 0.8. s . contention I that the State should not mix itself up I with Bible teaching is, of course, absurd. England has done it for years and prosI pered. His Majesty the King, as head of the State, recognises it publicly; so does the Prime Minister of New Zealand, as instanced quite recently in their reouest for “two minutes’ silence on Armis ; tice Dav. These words “keep silence are Biblical and were used during the war by the State, and are certainly more of a spiritual gesture than a matetial On i would like to thank “E O.B.” for his logical cohtribntions. Lastly, in these modern days, when we want to *now the “why and the wherefore, why do ne deny our own children Giat we , pay missionaries to teach the childrei of'so-called heathens Eketahuna, November .4. . [This correspondence is now elosea.j