CHOICE OF TEACHERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7028, 17 January 1910, Page 3

CHOICE OF TEACHERS

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sif,— rf- Arifitobulus/* in his reply to “ Observer," says, I see do reason why questions, of religion should not operate in tho "choice-of teachers. Why should Christian, children bo' handed over to the . influence, of freethinkers? Well, sir, I suppose if Children were handed over. - tov-tho.V*influence of freethinkers, thero would simply be no question of, religion at all, pud that, in my opinion, i-s as it should, be. Probably a good many «bf the’’teachers are freethinkers, .and if eo. are the children any tho worse for it?As a matter of fact, many freethinkers sire more honourable and conscientious. than, professing; Christians. As a rule they arc moro 1 sympathetic and ntore helpful to , their fellow-creatures, because they look on life, from a’broadly humanitarian point of view rather than that of 'superstition and. dogma. ’ r Anstobulus, ~ , argument,’of course, cuts both ways. If one man prefers to teach his children .that the power to develop the JlitruP. or :>the;Jiighest'within.lis: rests m our .own -strength of, mind, and that There is . nothing’ in the doctrine which tolls us; that “ Ave.ai'e all miserable, sinners, and can only .be saved by believing in‘ the sacrifice of *. an ‘ innocent victim some thoiiUands of years 1 ago/' _ why should thosechildren be taught the latter doctrine; for that is what*it would amount to, if the Bible were introduced into the; schools? : Surely there __ are plenty of churches and Sunday.: schools to clioose from; where (< Aristobulus children could, be instructed in Jmose beliefs he seems to consider' of importanceV Surely, alto,’he couljl teach them those beliefs -at; home, without, interfering with the liberty of freethinkers or any other thinkers. —I am, etc., Wellington., January 13th. 1910.