MORE CRITICISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 7

MORE CRITICISM

"MAN AND HIS WOULD" OBJECTIONS TO BOOK Dr. Mainwaring's book, "Man and His World," recommended for use in secondary schools, is sharply criticised in an article in the New Zealand Christian, the organ of the Churches of Christ in New Zealand. "Every improvement in education is gratifying to Christian parents and citizens," says the writer. "That secondary schools should given attention to 'Social Studies' and seek to acquaint young people with their human heritage—the lessons from the past and the path of progress and service for the future—is as it should bo. But if there is no better text-book to recommend than Mainwaring's 'Man and His World,' the change will get off to a bad start. Three Delects Stated "Our opinion is that the book is characterised by: (1) Out-moded science; (2) distorted history; and (3) religious bias. Any one of these should condemn it, in the eyes of the department, for the use intended. "It may be argued that such defects could be counteracted by capable teachers. But why choose a book for study which gives the teachers the extra work of correcting its errors? And what of the effect on scholars who study it for themselves ? "Mature minds rightly claim freedom to consider all kinds of views. But those who attend secondary schools have not reached maturity. And this' text-book does not present the possible views for consideration. It sets down one interpretation dogmatically as if it were the only acceptable estimate of truth, though to many it is neither acceptable nor true. "Affront to Christian Faith" "Christianity is an ethical religion; but its ethical teaching is not the whole of its religion. Jesus made the great moral teachings significant. He was not given significance by them. Had Dr Mainwaring's book been submitted to a competent theologian, its discredited, 19th century, liberalhumanism would never have been recommended as Christian teaching for schools. A schoolmaster cannot be expected to keep abreast of developments in all subjects or to know of the recent work of theologians which makes his description of Christianity as adequate as an exposition of the flat-earth theories. But surely those who are competent guides in the subjects discussed should be consulted. "That the author is entitled to his own interpretation no one will deny. That free discussion, competently guided, is a good thing most will agree. But that this dogmatically one-sided and out-of-date materialism should be officially commended to the rising generation parents will dispute emphatically. It is not merely that objection is taken to a few statements; the whole philosophy underlying the book is an affront to scholarship, to Christian faith, and to a nation whose leaders assure us that we are engaged in a struggle for Christian principles."