LOWER HUTT DEBATE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 197, 18 May 1936, Page 5

LOWER HUTT DEBATE

Teaching of Evolution “Evolution is not a theory: it is .‘in established fact, and no scientific authority in the last decade has disputed it,” said Mr. J. Bull at the Hutt Debating Society's meeting, when the subject, “That the fundamental principles of evolution should be taught in our schools,” was debated. “The inquiring mind of tile child.” said Air, Bull, "is so often left unenlightened as it matures and particularly as it reaches that stage when it becomes more curious and starts to probe intelligently the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of subjects that previously could be camouflaged beneath a fairy tale. This is the most important stage in a child's life and impressions created then are lasting, but. when a false or incomplete and perltaps, narrow viewpoint, is introduced, it may irretrievably affect the whole of the young person's adolescence, with corresponding repercussions in maturity.” Air. Bull’s two seconders continued the debate by stating that contrary to general belief, evolution did not conflict with the theory of divine creation. This point, however, was disputed by the opposition, who claimed it as one of the major points against the theory. Air. ,7. Finer, first speaker for the negative, said that it would he impossible to introduce such a subject in the school curriculum, because of the extreme diversity of opinion about even the facts of it, there would be great difficulty in arriving at a true definition that would be in accordance with the views of the majority. "If man cannot agree even as to the true interpretation of Biblical and Divine teachings, how could they agree on a universal theory of evolution?” he asked. It had not yet been done, he said, and until it. was it could not be introduced into the schools. Air. A r . Piper described evolution as a great irresistible unfolding that has been going on through the ages and which applies not only biologically but socially, psychologically, and commercially, while it was in this wider concept of it that the theory assumed its greatest significance. Biological records explained the present while a similar study of social conditions, past and present, should give us an insight into the future. It was further argued that this should he impressed upon the rising generations with a view to educating them to the understanding that those civilisations which ■■ were based upon law and order, justice and morality, would proceed the best and last, the longest. Mr. Renner, as adjudicator, declared the motion carried. Mr. A. H. Smith presided, IS members being present. Next week each member will lie asked to speak on the subject of his own professional activities.