THE PREMIER'S VIEWS ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11925, 25 December 1900, Page 5

THE PREMIER'S VIEWS ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir.,—Tour correspondent "Conscience' agrees with me that the Premier's views on tha above subject form interesting and instructive reading. The Premier has called attention to the glaring deficiency in the education of tlie young from the want of Bible-reading in the schools. The slight amount of religious teaching given once a week in the Sunday schools he deems utterly insufficient, and he points to the necessity of religious principles being understood and practised in every nation that may look for permanence mid true prosperity. He has done good service in directing the attention of the colony to this pubject, and it is to be hoped that in future he will not lose sight of it, as it is of infinitely greater importance than many of the matters which usually fill out his lengthy addresses.

The Premier declared that such religious teaching must be given, not by teachers, but by the churches—that is, the ministers or their representatives. When this has been attempted it has proved unsatisfactory and inefficient. No man can properly instruct a numerous class composed of pupils of all tho different standards in the school, more especially when he has not the authority and influence of the ordinary school teacher. Where it is done it is only on one day of the week, which is insufficient, and in most schools it cannot he done at all. On the other hand, there is no difficulty in setting apart half an hour daily within the usual school hours for Bible-reading. There would still be left much longer time than the four hours required by the act to be devoted to secular instruction.

Your correspondent, strangely enough, objects to my pointing out (hat this practice Ims been reßiilnrly followed in the schools of Britain and New South Wales. Surely this shows that Bible-teaching is reeosmised as valuable, and that it is beat carried out by the ordinary teachers of the school as part of their daily work. The good results of this have been proved during many years' experience, and hence the system is continued in these schools.

On tho other hand, in Victoria, where the secular system has been long followed, it has now been declared unsatisfactory by the commission, which has given great attention to the subject and taken evidence from all sorts of people host fitted to judge. That commission lia.s declared that Bible-reading should be. introduced in Victoria, and the same reasons should lead to its adoption in New Zealand.—l am, etc., .Tames Copiand.