THE RELIGIOUS SECT OF TEACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6817, 22 September 1883, Page 6

THE RELIGIOUS SECT OF TEACHERS.

An interesting discussion on this subject took place at the Board o£ Education yesterday. A resolution liad been carried by Mr. Hobbs at a previous meeting to the effect that a roll of teachers be prepared setting forth age, sex, and religious sect to which they belonged, whether married or single, the date of ttieir employment, their qualifications, etc. Mr. Luke gave notice of motion at the last meeting that the above resolution be rescinded (the words "religious sect" being omitted). He now begged to move '•'lhat the resolution ot the Board, dated June 22 last, relative to roll of teachers, be lescinded, and that in lieu thereof it be resolved i That a roll be prepared and kept of the teachers and probationers in the employ of the Board, setting forth their age, whether married or single, the date at which thoy entered the service of the Board, and their qualifications and record to date." He said: I do this for the following among other reasons—that our system of education knows no creed, and if our teachers do their duty faithfully and well, tbtir creed, whatever it may be, must remain a matter between themselves and their Creator. The strength of our Education Act consists in its absolute justice; it seeks to give equal justice to all. It looks neither upjn the creed of the teacher nor the creed of the parents of the child, but treats them all on the common grouud of civil and religious equality. It is not a question of expediency but a question of justice. If Mr. Hobbs' resolution is carried out it will be a gross meddling with the personal liberties of our teachers, aud will be a piece of impertiuence on our part which will ultimately drive the majority of our most independent and best teachers to other districts. The case of Mittagong Public School, New South Wales, was quoted from Sydney Morning Herald, July 26. A public school teacher had been appointed to Mittagong school who chanced to be a Roman Catholic, and a section of the inhabitants of Mittagong at once withdrew their children, and formulated a protest to the Minister of Education, Mr. Reid, against any such defilement of their school or corruption of their principles. They also formed a deputation, and proceeded to Sydney to make their protest in person. Mr. Reid gave a negative reply, and laid down this principle that the Department can bo no respecter of | creeds in making its appointments. As Mr. Dick, the Minister of Education for New Zealand, has given his dictum that the teachers cannot be compelled to record their religious sects, if Mr. Hobbs' resolution is confirmed it will be virtually inoperative. Mr. Hobbs said he felt rather amused with the position which had teen assumed in respect to this matter. The fact was, that when he proposed his resolution his idea was that he was doing what he could to prevent dennminationalism creeping into the schools. He could not see how denominationalism could be encouraged by having the roll of teachers as complete as possible. What was the roll? It was simply an office record. There was no need to make it public. But the aspect of this matter was twofold. There was as much reason to suppose that there was some object in having the roll incomplete and imperfect in this particular aa that it should be full and perfect. He could hardly understand the flutter amongst officials that appeared to be caused by the resolution formerly passed. Why wa3 there such an anxiety on the part of officials ? He (Mr. Hobbs) had seen Mr. Hislop just before leaving Wellington, and he heard from him that no one had- any business to interfere with the Board. Mr. Hislop said he had neither sent nor received telegrams from Auckland. Mr. Dick also said that there was no right of iutcrference with the Board. Mr. Moss said the fact was that telegrams were sent, for Mr. Shrimaki expressed great surprise. The Chairman said he sent no telegrams. Mr. Hobbs said there were telegrams in the Auckland papers from Wellington. Mr. Moss did not see any argument upon which it was Shown that advantage was to be obtained from inserting the religious sect of the teacher in the roll. He thought the Board had no power to ask a teacher what religious sect he belonged to. Such an inquiry was opposed to the spirit of the Act itself. But the Board must be guarded, lest they degrade the teacher. If they did so, the best teachers would leave the employment of tbe Board. Mr. CoorKß said he had thought over the arguments ju3t used on both Bides of this question. He thought to ask a man what sect he belonged to was trenching somewhat on the domain of conscience. There might be a variety of reasons which would make the question very inconvenient to answer. A maa might have any conscientious views he pleased, and if he be a truthful person, it must be inconvenient to him to havu to reply to a question as to the religious sect he belonged to. It was within the purview of the Act that the sect or denomination to which a teacher belonged was not a matter for inquiry by the Board. He also thought it was Inot necessary to inquire as to age to complete the roll. Mr. Goldie did not think that any harm could ensue from retaining this item of deecription. He followed Mr. Hobbs in thinking that the words should be retained tu complete the rccord. He believed that retaining the words would be advantageous to the [teachers themselves. The Board had formed the resolution to leave the selection ' of teachers to the committees. But a verj large proportion of the appointments appeared ■peared to have been entirely in the hands o: ! the officials of tbe Board. 1 Mr. Bcckland believed the question o! ' appointment was not affected by the sectioi ' to which a teacher belonged. These appoint ' ments were not made because the candidati ' belonged to a particular sect, but there wai ' no good reason why the fact should not bi 5 known to the Board itself. The Chairman said that "rumours out 3 side" had been referred to. So long as hi ' was behind the scenes, so to speak, he wa; 2 not aware that the officials of the Board it any way influenced'improperly the appoint J ment of teachers or others. He did no think the officials had any desire to do so. Tlx. f- nr./! /.-irr-i'od