"AN UNWARRANTABLE ENCROACHMENT"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 10

"AN UNWARRANTABLE ENCROACHMENT"

ON BIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND

TEACHERS.

Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) drew the attention of the Minister of Education in the House of Representatives to a letter addressed to the Wellington Education Board by Mr. W. H. Gould, principal of the Kelburn Training College, in reference to " the poculiar activities of an organisation calling itself ' the Pocket Testament League.' " The member quoted a statement in the letter to the effect that a representative of the league, the Rev. Mr. Davis, addressed the children, and by emotional effect, and an appeal to their cupidity, extracted from them written pledges in return for Testaments. He further proceeded to the formation of reading and prayer circles, and assumed, or gave the children to understand, that the: school would be .at. their disposal for carrying out the pledges. " This has, of course, placed the teachers in a very invidious position," the letter continued, "• as it compels them either to permit the ordinary work of the school to be i interfered with, or to refuse,, and sow in the children's minds a feeling that they (the teachers) hava an objection to matters religious. They have a right not to' be placed in such a position. It is hardly necessary, for me to stress the moral danger to children, especially in-cipient-adolescents-of high-emotional excitement; and it should be scarcely necessary, to stress the effect of exacting under such conditions written pledges that, in the .majority of cases,-: are certain to be broken as- soon as the- excitement subsides." . „- .

"The intrusion of' emotional revivalism cannot but have a disastrous effect on the children, whoso moral as well as. mental condition is entrusted to the teachers," -observed Mr. Fraser, in.asking the Minister what steps he proposed to.take to prevent a recurrence of such an unwarrantable encroachment on tho rights of the children, the teachers, and the parents. . . . .• ■

■ Th,e Hon 0. J. Parr replied, and said the letter^ had, not been brought under .his notice.but he had no doubt'it had been dealt with by the board. He was not in a position- to stato what action, if any, was necessary, but inquiry would be made by the Education Board concerning the matter.