THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 9834, 24 October 1895, Page 4

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —Do not imagine—no, not for oue moment that because the people are not demonstrative "the Bible -in - schools controversy ... in New Zealand is as dead as '. ;uiar." No, sir, the vital question is neither dead nor dying. The EvENINC Star has so long and so persistently opposed the reintroduction of the Bible into' the State schools that probably yon think the people are with you ; but in this matter at least silence is not acquiescence or consent. Not only do I protest against your views and deductions, but I venture to hope and to suggest that your sentiments on this subject do not meet with anything like general approval. Unquestionably the calm, careful, intelligent discussion of this great and farreaching question, on its broad merits and apart from all personalities and prejudices, can only do good. In the judgment of many persons who are neither faddists nor pessimist*, but perfectly calm, level-headed men and women, wc have reached a critical crisis in our national history, and the wise solution of this delicate educational problem iu the interests of our voung people would bo attended with happy issues.

Since, in 1577. the Bible was unhappily excluded from the public schools of this colony large, representative, enthusiastic, orderly public gatherings of citizens have from time to time been held, not only to protest against a cruel wrong, but to suggest a.remedy: and year aflcr year petitions signed by tens of thousands of settlers in town and country have been presented to Parliament, but as yet in vain. Ido uot, however, admit that tho question u ia as dead as Ctosar." Most sincetvly do I trust your article will aroiiße to action those who have been forgetful of their duty. Through the efforts some years ago in Dunedin of an association (representing all the creeds and largely supported by what are called the laity) for which I acted as secretary, the following query was, in writing, addressed to all the parents and guardians of children in the schools of Otago :—" Are you in favor of a portion of the Bible being read daily in the public schools (with leave to such parents as may object to withdraw their children during such reading)?" As representing 11,884 pupils, 4,674 parents in writing answered "Yes"; and as representing 1,613 pupils 602 parents said (> No," giving a clear majority of 4,072. Query: Should 602 tyrannise over 4,674 ? Although not quite satisfactory, the demand to have, as a compromise, the Irish National School Books introduced seems modest and fair. The present state of things is a scandal, almost a crime, and is fraught with peril. In any case, the question is not dead as Ciusar.—l am, etc., D. Wright.

Dunedin, October 23

[We do not forget the taking of the plebiscite referred to by Mr Wright, but we tlis- [ pute, as we did at the time, the correctness of the deductions drawn from that vote. This "great and far-seeing question" concerrs not only the parents aud guardians of the pupils who attend the schools, but every taxpayer in the land who has to pay for the maintenance of the educational system, and it is the vote of the taxpayer that will determine this question at the ballot box and nowhere eke. We give Mr Wright full credit for the strength of his opinions and the sincerity of his views, and he must allow us to hold with equal tenacity to our opinions, which have beeD deliberately formed. It is the great constituency served by the Evening Star that is silent just now; but Mr Wright and his co-workers must not fondly imagine that that silence is born of indifference to the issues involved, or implies " acquiescence or consent" so far as the demands of the Bible-iu-schools party are concerned. When forces are mustered for the impending battle, which will be fought ere long, the voice of the people will assuredly make itself heard above the conflict, and we shall then see whether Mr Wright or the Evening Star has correctly gauged publie opinion. We can bide our time, but we have our ammunition dry.— Ed. E.S.]