BISHOP NEVILL AND THE SCHOOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 7281, 4 August 1887, Page 3

BISHOP NEVILL AND THE SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Bishop Novill is having a “ warm time ” of it just now; but doubtless be had taken into consideration the opposition he would evoke in speaking as he did, and yet, like a brave man, felt it was better to speak plainly, even though be should give great offence to ra my. And so will the large majority of bis fellow-citizens think when they calmly consider the matter for themselves—when the chairmen of the various school committees have had their say and the newspapers devote their leading articles to some other topic. It seems to me, sir, that those who are so vigorously denouncing the Bishop’s statement in reference to our school children aro wilfully blind as to the meaning of the particular sentence in debate, and are seeking to lead the public away on a false track. No one, least of all the Bishop, would attempt to asperse the character of the large majority of the children attending our schools; and, indeed, it the remarks of the Bishop applied even to a considerable minority, we might sound the knell of New Zealand's prospects. But it is a lamentable fact that it is true of some; and that it is not true of more is not because of the school influence, but in spite of it. Look at the large majority of our school children, and we find they are blessed with kind and affectionate parents, who use their influence to guide their little ones aright, and are ready to cheek at the first sign any indication of a departure from the path of strictest rectitude and morality; and besides this they have the invaluable benefit of Sunday-school teaching. Now is it fair or reasonable for anyone to instance such as these, in reply to the Bishop’s charges, and say “ Sea bow pure, modest, and moral the children are ” ? If we are to judge of the effect of our school system pure and simple, we must take the ease of those children who have no beneficent counteracting influences acting on their character, and see how they stand the test. And there are many such in our midst. I am not alluding to the lowest grade of.all, as that would be as unfair as the course I have already indicated, but to the many whose parents are just careless of them, and who know nothing at all of a good home influence. Are the minds and morals of such as these elevated and refined by the system adopted in our schools, and do they in the school find any counteracting influence to the companionship of the black sheep, which are admittedly found In every flock 7 Of course they do not; and it is Just this lack of the chief need, of children so situated that the Bible-in-sohools Association wish to remedy. If we wish to Judge rightly of our school system, we must not ask if the children of our respectable and well-to-do citizens are able to retain their purity and morality, but aro the neglected ones improved and helped upwaid; are the vicious restrained and reformed 7 It is entirely begging the question for the teachers to say the conduct of (heir children in the

schools if exemplary. The question if bow those that Ihave mentioned conduct themselves when away from the masters’ control; and anyone iVho walks aboht the streets of Dunedin with his eyes and cars open must admit the truth of the Bishop's remarks, and should loci thankful that ho had the courage to draw attention to this dangerous plague spot in our rising generation.—l am etc., 0. Duncoio, August 2 TO TUB EDITOH. Sir,—l was intensely grieved while reading the giavc slanders cast by Bishop Nevill on our school children. As I have four girls attending school I feci it my duty to say that the statements made by the Bishop re Meeting on the characters of the children are not only uncharitable but untrue, and I challenge him or any others to contradict what I say. I speak from facts, not from hearsay as Bishop Nevill has done. , .... Alaa ! how grievous it is that any one should give utterance to slanders and make religion tho pretext (or attempting to disturb the peace of the community. I think it best to let the Bishop pass with this for tho present, but recommend him to carefully study the 13th chapter of First Corinthians.—l am, etc., E.M.O. Dunedin, Adglitt 4.