RELIGIOUS EXERCISES IN SCHOOLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 July 1926, Page 3

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES IN SCHOOLS

(To the Editor) P ; r, —T beg to endorse Mr Ralph’s words in his letter published in Saturday’s paper. I have boon honorary, secretary of the> “Nelson System” for upwards of two years, and it is essential’ that people should realise that this system cannot Ire applied to the whole of the Dominion schools in a. satisfactory way. Even in this city we are so short of teachers that two standards receive no liihle lesson. The system can only be usucl in settled and populated areas —m small back-block schools and scattered areas it is impracticable. The position is this—it has been stated that our Parliamentary member is not in favour of the above Bill,-but that he advocates the application of the ' Nelson System” to all schools in New Zealand. This is quite. impossible for the above reasons. Undisputed authority informs us that, many of our country children are entirely ignorant of the first truths of Christianity. Shall we, who have enjoyed the Nelson system for many years, do nothing to have the Bible read daily to these hundreds of children all over the Dominion? The petition now being circulated has the same object as next Sunday afternoon’s meeting in Marsdcn Church House—namely, to urge the passing of the above Bill whereby the children in all State schools shall have the daily offering of the Lord’s Prayer, the singing of a hymn, and the reading of selected portions of the’ Bible by their own teachers. It is desired to have as many names as possible on the petition : more helpers are needed and should apply to the lion, secretary of the Nelson branch of the Bible in Schools League, Mrs C. H. Coole, Mountooth, Collingwo<nl Street. If has been well said that “the only difference between a groove and a grave is the depth.” If any of us are in a groove over this very important matter, let us clear out of it for the sake of the little children who knov/ not their Friend and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me. and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”’ “What- shall it. profit a man .if he shall gain the, whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”—1 am. etc., FRANK C. LAWRENCE. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS t't't The Fdit.or.) are being asked to sign a petition in favour of a Bill to provide for the reading of portions of the Bible in our primary schools. The following considerations should l>e duly weighed by all thoughtful parsons. The Bill provides, we tire, told, that passages of Scripture shall be read, but enjoins that the teacher shall make nu comment nor answer any question except for the purpose of making clear the meaning of the words. Now the teaching of reading has undergone a great change in recent years. Reading is now regarded as being first and foremost thought, getting. It is considered of chief importance that- children shall understand and appreciate the meaning of what is ’ read. The mere mechanical process of j reading aloud is now accorded a subord- j inate place. To secure a live interest ! in any passage read, a modern teacher depends above all upon discussion, and i! is his great aim to stimulate. bis pn pile to ask questions about the subjectmatter. If the Bill is passed, what air anomalous state of things will exist’ Every other kind of reading matter — historical, geographical, scientific, and , literary—will be freely discussed. The j passage of Scripture alone must not bo discussed! About the Bible alone must no question be asked ! What will the child consciously or unconsciously infer from this peculiar treatment of the Bible? Will he not inevitably feel that the Bible is a- book that will not bear criticism or discussion? Will not- the reading appear in consequence a farce and a sham, a species of inumbo Jumbo? Will not religion tend more than ever to appear a thing divorced from the realities of life? Those who believe in the efficacy of mere Bible reading with these restrictions are on u par with the heathen who evince a pathetic faith in the turning of their prayer wheels. Religion will not be advanced but rather tlie contrary by this empty ceremony. Meanwhile the valuable time of the teachers and scholars will be worse than wasted. Under the Nelson system not only is the Bible rqjdj but it- is fully discussed and explained arid valuable lessons are drawn from it. The promoters of the Bill are indeed throwing away the substance for the shadow. I am, etc.,