BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13210, 17 February 1905, Page 6

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir—Your correspondent "Child Pilot" entirely evades the principal part of the letter I quoted from—viz!, the expression of opinion by an orthodox Scotchman at Homo ' that secular education must, supplant denominational,' and that the churches must do their duty. As a reply to his other statement, that it lias been part of Scotland's practice to leave tn'e teaching of religion to schoolmasters, allow mo to quote tho Rev. Dr Guthrie on "Tho Three It's ""I wish to say that, having had perhaps bettor opportunities of knowing and understanding tho people of-Scotland* than many present, I would just beg my brethren to bear in mind what Dr Candlish has said, that thero is a broad distinction made by tho people of Scotland between tho principles that apply to the church and tlioso which apply to the school. The people of Scotland never have confounded, and I hop© never will confound, the preceptor with the preacher. It not to the school they look for tho religious and pious education of their children. They look for this to tho parents, to tho teachers of the Sabbath soliool, and to the pulpit of the church. I havo often had occasion to see that tho people of Scotland attach tho greatest importance to tho master of tile school in regard to education. This is the feeling of tho people, and it would not be easily changed; ]Je his creed and church to which ho belongs what they might, tho teacher who is most, expert attaching the common branches of education is the man above all to whom people will send their children. I could give sufficient instances of this were it necessary. I havo known them prefer a poacher to a preacher, just becauso he brougnt on tho children faster in what- they call the three It's— Reading, 'ltiting, and Hithmetic." Dr Guthrie was not himself a secularist, but lm evidently clearly realised that Scottish parents looked to the schoolmaster for secular- teaching only, and considered themselves responsible for religious teaching. I am afraid tho Scotchmen " Child Pilot" quotes have forgotten what the creed of their forefathers was—a creed exemplified in the strong stand taken for secular education, when tho present system was introduced, by the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland, comprising at that time men fresh from the Old Land and true to their faith. Regarding aid to Catholic schools, I might first ask "Child Pilot" whether it is part of the Bible-in-schools programme to grant it. Dr Gibb is not game to point out that no Bil)le-in-schools system can meet the Catholic difficulty. Tho Romap Catholics are the only peoplo who show their sincerity in this malteir by paying for religious teaching and making it part of the school course. I would not break up our system by giving any grants to private schools; but tlioro is no comparison bctweon the sincerity of the Roman Catholics, who put their hands in their own pockets, and that of the Bible-in-Schools party, who want to put their hands in the Roman Catholic and others' pockcts and grab the lot for themselves. There is neither justice nor fairplay in such a proposal; nor does it say much for tho moral training of thoso who make such a proposi tion.—l am, etc., J. J. Ramsat. Omakau, February 15.