MR. TEBBS ON EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5999, 8 February 1881, Page 6

MR. TEBBS ON EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Will you kindly permit me to reply to the various points contained in "A Working Man's " letter, as follows I have no "down" on the present system of education further than that I consider it insufficient in one, and that the most important particular —the so forming the future career of the scholar that in this life he shall be most beneficial to his neighbours, as well as fit himself for the life to come. Any system of education is insufficient that is not based upon that " Fear of the Lord" which " is the beginning of knowldge." No length of time will cure a system which has this fatal flaw. The delinquents that I mentioned in a previous letter are mostly known to me, and are not attendants at St. Matthew's school. '' These clerics are so anxious about the children " because they Lave replied in their ordination to the question—" Are you determined, out of the said Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to your charge ?" "I have so determined by God's grace as well as having promised "the Lord being their helper " to ."instruct the young." They ("these clerics "} do not " consider the parents unfit in every case to look after their offspring," but they feel a serious responsibility with regard to the welfare of the numerous children whose parents are unable, unwilling, or lacking in time to instruct them in religious knowledge. Some (at least) of '' these clerics " are '' manly enough to assail the stronger enemy," if by this term "A Working Man" means the parents, as he might have heard in several of the churches on very recent occasions. It is this "stronger enemy " that the Bible in Schools Association is endeavouring to convince of the error of their "enmity." When, Sir, we "shall have brought the parents to feel that religious instruction is necessary for their children" —as sad as strange that there should be in a Christian laud such a task for the clergy— the . children will not only be sent '' to Church and Sunday-school," but that which we prognosticate will come to pass —the parents will demand the introduction of religious instruction into the daily schools.—l am, &c., Wm. Tebbs. St. Matthew's Parsonage, Feb. 7.